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Synth-pop trio Chvrches are gearing up to share a new album, Screen Violence, which will be out on August 27. In advance of the new project they’ve shared singles like “He Said She Said” and “How Not To Drown,” which was their unexpected collaboration with Robert Smith of The Cure. Of course, getting a legend of that caliber on a new song is always a win, but the band have also enlisted Smith to create his own remix of the collaboration, which is out today.

The Fader got an email quote from Smith about his take on the song, which was presented in all caps so bear with it – he’s not yelling, he’s just excited. Check out Smith’s thoughts on the track and listen to it below.

“I HAVE LOVED CHVRCHES FROM THE FIRST TIME I HEARD “THE MOTHER WE SHARE,” AND WAS THRILLED WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO COLLABORATE WITH THEM ON ONE OF THEIR NEW SONGS. I LISTENED TO EARLY VERSIONS LAST YEAR, AND “HOW NOT TO DROWN” JUMPED OUT AND DRAGGED ME UNDER. I WANTED MY REMIX TO FOCUS ON SOME OF THE SUNKEN ELEMENTS IN THE BRILLIANT ALBUM MIX, TO CONJURE UP AN IRRESISTIBLE MIDNIGHT SEA, WITH DARK MESMERIC CURRENTS THAT GENTLY BUT INEXORABLY PULL YOU DOWN… “

Take it from the Utah Jazz themselves: Something’s gotta give. It’s why star center Rudy Gobert said after a Game 6 loss to the Clippers that “if we are to take another step in the playoffs, a lot of things will have to get better.” It’s why top executive Dennis Lindsey said the Jazz “wore down physically” and the roster would have to undergo a “comprehensive review” in order to improve.

All the negativity is understandable in the thick fog of playoff disappointment, but it’s not just a matter of this particular series. Utah fell from a 3-1 lead in the first round last year, and neither Gobert nor 24-year-old All-Star Donovan Mitchell have made a conference finals in their careers. This was supposed to be the Jazz’s year, and it ended in much the same way many other recent ones have.

Getting better could involve some changes to the makeup of the team, but it would be silly to ignore the role that injuries played for Utah. The absence of Kawhi Leonard got most of the attention, but Mitchell was also nursing a sore ankle, one he sprained just after the All-Star break and aggravated in the playoffs.

If Mitchell is healthier, the Jazz may be in the conference finals right now. Amid all the conversation about change, that’s an important consideration: Utah was not far away. But to break through and truly live up to their supposed contender status, this team needs to be more malleable. Head coach Quin Snyder has proven to be creative and adaptable during his time in Salt Lake City, handing the offense from Gordon Hayward to Mitchell and building a smaller team with more shooting after years of stubbornly keeping size on the floor. But even as the Jazz continue to change, Mitchell will be the rising tide that lifts the rest of this team.

And Mitchell has just not been quite good enough. Just 23 percent of his shot attempts came at the rim in the playoffs, down from nearly a third in each of the past two postseasons, per Cleaning the Glass. Hoping that he could step up defensively against a Paul George or Reggie Jackson may have always been a long shot, but he rarely even got those matchups while he grimaced around Staples Center in Game 6. Mitchell will get better as a player, but he was also not himself this spring.

If the Jazz are honest with themselves, though, many of the deficiencies Mitchell had already displayed early in his career cropped up again in these playoffs. He is far too allergic to driving to the basket, preferring instead to settle for pull-ups when better shots are available. He has not developed enough yet as a pick-and-roll play-maker to deliver elite offense by himself on a possession-to-possession basis in the later stages of the playoffs. Mitchell did average a career-high in assist percentage this year, but a more diverse offensive game in which defenses have to respect him as a finisher and passer would go a long way. Mitchell improving in these areas would go a long way for Utah, and considering he is only 24, this kind of growth is very possible.

Optimism is harder to come by for Gobert after watching him get turned in circles by the Clippers’ small-ball lineup. The Leonard-less unit that dismantled Utah in Games 5 and 6 is out-scoring teams by 28 points per 100 possessions this postseason, largely as a result of their relentless bullying of Gobert. During that second round series, Utah had a 121.9 defensive rating with Gobert, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, on the floor. The team just did not have another tool at its disposal when Gobert got fried.

This is where change could be useful. The Jazz were criticized for using their mid-level exception last summer to bring back Derrick Favors, a backup center who did little to mix up their identity but made sense due to the team’s decision to go all-in on continuity. Favors played well during the regular season, but the criticism feels quite reasonable now, after a playoffs in which he rarely cracked 10 minutes and provided little reason for Snyder to go to him over Gobert. Lineup and stylistic flexibility has to be a priority heading into 2022 for Utah.

Part of the issue here is that by giving Gobert top dollar and investing in players like Favors for so long, the Jazz brought this structure — and the challenges that come with it — upon themselves. While the rest of the NBA identified players like Draymond Green, P.J. Tucker, or Aaron Gordon — positional chameleons who afforded their teams the chance to go “small” without actually sacrificing size or physicality — the Jazz largely stuck to their guns. Sure, they geared a bit more toward the perimeter with players like Bogdan Bogdanovic, but Gobert remains at the center of everything they do, and in matchups like last weekend’s Game 6 in L.A., it can feel as if the guy playing center for Utah is more of a dinosaur than a difference-maker.

One issue that the Jazz could not have foreseen: Starting point guard Mike Conley also missed much of the regular season and all but one game of the second round loss to Los Angeles. Through an optimist’s lens, the Jazz might look at all this bad luck and believe a fully healthy Jazz team with a re-signed Conley would be a title threat in 2022. While they will likely be on that shortlist, it’s hard to trust that Conley can stay healthy for a full season anymore. He hasn’t cracked 60 games played since arriving in Utah, and has played 80 games just twice in his NBA career.

Now 33, Conley’s free agency is the biggest question facing the team and its future salary cap situation. Conley carries a $39.3 million cap hold entering free agency this summer, and the Jazz are capped out for years to come because Mitchell’s max extension kicks in next season. Whether they keep Conley or move on, that doesn’t change. Seemingly, that would create an incentive to come together on a short-term deal that brings Conley back as Utah’s starter on a cheaper contract, perhaps something shorter that is partially guaranteed to guard against further health decline on Conley’s part. Then again, the Jazz do not seem to be all-in on bringing Conley back.

“He’s got to go vet his market,” Lindsey said this month. “We’ve got to go Draft, and as soon as it’s legal have free agent conversations. … We’ll have just a real honest conversation and see if you can make a marriage work, but couldn’t be more proud of him.”

Moving on from Conley would provide more flexibility for trades, pushing Utah further from the luxury tax. With players such as Georges Niang, Juwan Morgan, and Miye Oni waiting in the wings thanks to the Jazz’s excellent player development program, it probably makes sense to explore whether Joe Ingles fetches any interest around the NBA. At 33, Ingles is not going to be a solution to Utah’s perimeter defensive ails and as Mitchell gets better, Ingles’ play-making may not be quite so needed.

With the 30th pick and another mid-level exception to use, the Jazz have limited means to get better externally outside of trading someone like Ingles, Favors, or Jordan Clarkson. Because of his athletic limitations and the fact that his offensive game is still so rudimentary, Gobert is probably not a good bet to improve much over the remainder of his prime. A fully realized version of Mitchell can take this Jazz team further, but in order to improve, the team will need to face the sobering reality that it cannot commit entirely to the way Gobert plays and still handle the adjustments needed come playoff time.

One of the best psych-pop bands in recent memory, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, have graced us with a new weekend anthem just in time for, you know, the glorious two-day break that makes all this striving worth it. Remember, Ruban Nielson has the range to go from 2018’s expansively funk Sex & Food to the headier and harderIC-01 Hanoi in the span of one year, but this is the first new solo single from the band since that year.

Still, it isn’t like Nielson has been resting on his laurels, he’s featured on collaborations with the likes of Amine, and has also remixed tracks for other artists like Soccer Mommy and Westerman. But UMO fans will be more than satisfied with this buzzy new track from the band, it fits perfectly in with their past oeuvre while building into a technicolor bloom of psych-pop that’s ideal for a post-pandemic weekend chill out. “At the end of the day I don’t take for granted that I have the perfect job,” Nielson said of the song. “I truly work to make music that will set someone’s day right and I think that shines through on ‘Weekend Run.”

Check out the new song above and look out for more new music hopefully coming soon.

Despite fans best efforts to keep up with all the MCU’s various twists, turns, and surprises, the newest trailer for the upcoming Shang-Chi movie proves the masterminds at Marvel will always be a few steps ahead of us. In the film’s most recent trailer, none other than the classic Hulk villain Abomination made an appearance, marking his first appearance in the MCU since Edward Norton’s The Incredible Hulk back in 2008. While it was rumored Abomination would make his big return in Disney+’s upcoming She-Hulk series, seeing him in Shang-Chi is a bit shocking to say the least. As such, you might be wondering why Abomination, why now, how did he even get there, and — most importantly — what does this mean for the MCU at large. While we can’t say for certain until we see Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings this September, let’s go over a few theories.

First things first: could different Hulk actors mean The Incredible Hulk took place in a different universe?

While it seems very apparent that the future of the MCU will be filled with multidimensional madness (or a multiverse of madness, if you will), unless they did some serious retconning The Incredible Hulk is pretty firmly considered canon in the MCU. Despite Edward Norton being replaced by Mark Ruffalo, Marvel treats the change as a simple recasting rather than a reboot and for good reason — the film features Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in its end credits and the MCU has brought back William Hurt’s General Thunderbolt Ross in multiple films, making it pretty impossible to shrug off. In addition, it is included in all MCU phase one box sets. Despite seeing Doctor Strange‘s Wong in the trailer, I don’t think Abomination has much to do with the upcoming multiverse — though he might have a place in a major future collaboration of villains… or perhaps heroes.

Makes sense. Okay so, if it’s the same Abomination from the established universe… how did he get there? And where is there, for that matter?

Okay so, let’s start with the question of location. If you’re a Marvel comics reader — or watched The Falcon and The Winter Soldier — you might recognize this city as the fictional, Southeast Asian city of Madripoor. According to the comics, Madripoor is a place of lawlessness and extreme economic disparity, with powerful elites controlling the city while the working-class citizens struggle under their oppression. Additional fun fact: it’s also a place of significance in the X-Men series, which was recently acquired by Disney. Wolverine and Daken cameos, anyone? Anyways, based on all this it makes sense we see what is essentially an underground fighting ring taking place in the Shang-Chi trailer.

Now let’s tackle how Abomination got here. At the end of The Incredible Hulk, Abomination (aka Emil Blonsky) is imprisoned rather than killed off. He is taken in by none other than General Thunderbolt Ross who brings him to the elite prison he runs known as the Raft. So, if he was kept at an elite prison, you might be wondering how he escaped. Well, there are a few likely answers.

Culprit 1: Baron Zemo

When we last saw Baron Zemo in The Falcon and The Winter Solider, he was being taken back to the Raft to finish up his remaining time after seemingly being reformed through his time with Bucky and Sam. It could be then that Zemo will ultimately reemerge in the MCU as leader of The Thunderbolts, a Suicide Squad-esque team of reformed supervillains formed after his time in the Raft. Based on the fact that we see a U.S. Agent poster in the Shang-Chi trailers, we know the film takes place after all of Baron’s character growth. As such, it seems possible Zemo broke out Abomination to recruit him to his cause. There’s also a possibility it wasn’t a breakout at all.

Culprit 2: General Thunderbolt Ross

It could be that the head of the Raft, General Thunderbolt Ross himself, could have let Abomination escape either as a weapon of the U.S. military or as an ally through his affiliation with The Thunderbolts. You see, despite Zemo’s arguably closer affiliation with the Thunderbolts, at one point in the comics General Ross becomes Red Hulk and forms a version of the Thunderbolts himself. Something that adds some fuel to this fire is that in the comics, The Thunderbolts fight off the Skrulls during the Secret Invasion arc, which is being adapted into a Disney+ series. Regardless of who is leading, it seems possible this could happen and have something to do with Abomination’s appearance.

Culprit 3: Mephisto

Now I might be shoving my foot in my mouth a few years later, but despite both Wandavision and Loki stirring rumors about Marvel villain Mephisto (Wandavision because of his partnership with Agatha Harkness in the comics, Loki because a figure that looked like him was depicted in a stained glass window) I think his involvement as of right now is a bit unlikely. However, he is a villain in both Spider-Man and Doctor Strange and some evidence exists to I don’t think it’s fair to rule this theory out completely. If it is Mephisto, Abomination — as well as other Raft prisoners Vulture and Baron Zemo — are a part of his Legion Accursed supervillain group. Not only that, but if Kraven and Crimson Dynamo (Black Widow) make appearances in these upcoming phase four movies… well this theory could have a lot of weight behind it. In fact, I might have sold myself more on it just writing this!

Looks like we’ll have to wait until Shang-Chi hits theaters September 3 to figure out just what’s going on.

The Fast Saga finally has a new chapter as of this weekend, with the long-awaited F9 bringing people back to theaters and marveling at how cars can, apparently, fly. But the biggest car-related news of the week was revealed by Liam Neeson, who learned the rules of the road from an arguably more famous actress a few decades ago.

In an interview with James Corden where Neeson explains, in part, why he didn’t become James Bond, the actor casually discussed his friendship with Dame Helen Mirren. Who, apparently, taught him how to drive.

As Neeson revealed during the interview, he was filming the 1981 movie Excalibur with Mirren, who was responsible for getting the Ice Road star behind the wheel: “Helen and I formed a lovely friendship, I’m proud to say,” he recalled. “But yeah, she taught me how to drive, yeah. Essentially.”

Corden asked if she was a good instructor, and Neeson said she was. As he explained, he had to “go to a British driving school” because he had gotten the job but it did not provide transportation for him, so he needed to get a license and a car. He bought what he described as “a converted sewing machine,” which Corden had a picture of. The whole story was very self-deprecating and lovely, really.

This is an example of how celebrities are very much not like us. Most of us are taught by a parent or guardian, not a living legend of the stage and screen. But not everyone is Liam Neeson, of course, and as we’ve learned from the Fast Saga, Mirren certainly has the driving chops to share her knowledge with others.

[via EW]

Louisville rapper EST Gee returns today with another new single to build on the rising rumble he’s cultivated over the past year. “Capitol 1” is a thumping song that oozes menace as the street-bred rapper threatens his ops and shows off his cash. The video accompanying the track finds Gee waving a stack of said cash in front of the camera as he sips from a red cup, mugging alongside his crew while draped in glittering diamond-encrusted jewelry. He also FaceTimes his mentor Lil Baby, who helped launch his career by putting him on the 2020 “Real As It Gets” and originally offered to sign him to 4PF.

While that plan didn’t exactly come to fruition, EST Gee did manage to land a deal instead with Yo Gotti’s CMG Records, where he shares space with fellow up-and-comers 42 Dugg, Blac Youngsta, and Moneybagg Yo. He also has a number of successful singles with many of the aforementioned cohort of trap rappers, including “Members Only” with Dugg, “Special” with Moneybagg, and “Get Money” with the label honcho Gotti. He also popped up on fellow Louisville native Jack Harlow’s acclaimed debut album earlier this year, celebrating the world-famous “Route 66.” The Louisville native is on the verge of a huge breakout thanks to some choice features but proves he can carry a song on his own here.

Listen to EST Gee’s “Capitol 1” above.

The Discovery Channel just revealed its fast-approaching Shark Week line-up and included in the feeding frenzy of events is the Jackass Shark Week Special, which appears to be exactly what it sounds like: The cast of Jackass thrown in with sharks.

Tucked inside a robust list of on-air episodes and streaming specials for discovery+ that add up to over 45 hours of ocean predator content, the Jackass Shark Week Special will swim onto The Discovery Channel at 1o PM/ET on July 11, the very first day of Shark Week. Here’s the official synopsis:

Johnny Knoxville sends Steve-O, Chris Pontius, and new Jackass cast members on a Shark Week mission for the ages. They’ll dial up a series of shark stunts that test their bravery and threshold of pain as they put common shark myths to the test with the help of Dr. Craig O’Connell. Produced by Jeff Tremaine and Anomaly Entertainment.

In a quote to Entertainment Weekly, Steve-O teased, “We went all out for our Jackass Shark Week special, and there were consequences. Safe to say it’s going to be a hit!” Along with the Jackass special, Tiffany Haddish will host a special event and Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp will search for the strangest sharks in the ocean. Here’s the time and date for those specials, as well as a few other highlights.

Tiffany Haddish Does Shark Week – Sunday, July 11 at 9PM ET/PT

Official Description: Tiffany Haddish hosts Shark Week! While her fantasy was to uncover the secrets of shark sex sailing on the fanciest yachts surrounded by friendly sea creatures and pampered by a handsome merman, she’s joined by Dr. Toby Daly-Engle, Dr. Craig O’Connell, Alannah Vellacott for a very sharky wake-up call.

Stranger Sharks – Streaming Monday, July 12 exclusively on discovery+

Official Description: Mark Rober and Noah Schnapp from Stranger Things are teaming up for the ultimate Shark Week adventure…exploring abandoned undersea ruins and man-made artificial reefs searching for the strangest sharks in the ocean.

Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek – Monday, July 12 at 10PM ET/PT

Official Description: Josh Gates links up with his childhood hero, William Shatner, to boldly go where Shark Week has never gone before. The mission: enter shark-infested waters to understand the nature of fear and come face to face with an apex predator. This is Shark Trek.

The Real Sharknado – Wednesday, July 14 at 9PM ET/PT

Official Description: We have all seen the movies, sharks jumping into boats, circling in tornados, and risking their lives to attack humans. Could these shark feasts happen? Ian Ziering and Tara Reid pick up their chainsaws once again – this time with the help of Dr. Tristan Guttridge and to see if a real Sharknado could happen.

Dr. Pimple Popper Pops Shark Week – Thursday, July 15 at 8PM ET/PT

Official Description: Dr. Sandra Lee has entertained millions with her extreme pimple popping videos. Now she heads to Turks and Caicos with Dr. Austin Gallagher to explore the world of shark skin and how she can apply the science they gather to help human skin issues.

Sharkadelic Summer 2 – Thursday, July 15 at 9PM ET/PT

Official Description: Sharkadelic is back to find out if this summer will be the sharkiest on record. Snoop Dogg breaks down the craziest encounters, the wildest and most unpredictable reactions to discover if America is once again ground zero for the shark superstorm.

In addition to these Shark Week festivities, discovery+ will stream, Fin, a documentary from Eli Roth. According to Discovery, “Roth and a professional group of scientists, researchers and activists sail around the globe to unveil the truth behind the death of millions of sharks, exposing the criminal enterprise that is impacting the extinction of the misunderstood creatures.” Fin will be available Thursday, July 15 on discovery+.

(Full Shark Week schedule via Discovery)

Mythic Quest: Season 2 season finale (Apple TV+ series) — Rob McElhenney’s workplace comedy made it back to the office after you-know-what forced the work-at-home situation. They built upon Raven’s Banquet success with a new expansion, but nothing’s going smoothly. Snoop Dogg stopped by this season to spread his feel-good… vibes. And now, it’s time to end this sophomore chapter with an eye toward the future.

Bosch: Season 7 (Amazon series) — Everyone’s favorite loose-cannon detective (portrayed by Titus Welliver) who doesn’t shy away from extralegal tactics is back for one final lap, and hopefully, he’ll be weirdly eating pancakes again at some point before this show ends. Oh, and after this season ends, there will (at some point) be a spinoff that will pretty much be more Bosch on the way. Welliver, Madison Lintz, and Mimi Rogers will all be on board, and Bosch will move onto some as-yet-detailed new phase of his career. Strange, right? The fans won’t be complaining.

These streaming picks make excellent appetizers:

Loki: Episode 3 (Disney+ series) — Tom Hiddleston has an absolute blast playing the mercurial trickster of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and we shall reap the benefits while he helps (or hinders) the Time Variance Authority during the process of cleaning up the timeline. This week, Sophia Di Martino’s “Variant” character teams up with Loki, and the show inserted a significant detail into canon while appearing to also confirm a theory about the TVA. Also, the episode looks like a straight-up Doctor Who set.

Central Park: Season 2 (Apple TV+ series) — Get ready for more animated musical madness that takes on themes of gentrification and capitalism with such an ease that feels, well, natural. Voice performances from Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Stanley Tucci, and Daveed Diggs will all entertain with whimsy, and oh, do not forget the presence of Tituss Burgess, ever. The series is co-created by Loren Bouchard of Bob’s Burgers fame, and it’s a heartwarming and unique comedy series following a cast of evolving characters.

False Positive (Hulu film) — Hide your uteruses! Pierce Brosnan is the worst fertility doctor. As if being a woman wasn’t hard enough, Hulu (through this A24 film) will give us even more fuel to dread going to a gynecologist, or baby doctor, or fertility whiz, or whatever term you want to use. Ilana Glazer stars as one half of a couple, alongside Justin Theroux, who seeks to become pregnant, and things aren’t exactly going well with the natural route. And from there, things get all Rosemary’s Baby in a very 2021 way, and in an entertaining way, too, while everyone slowly realizes that something is simply not right with Brosnan’s Dr. Awesome. From there, the this trailer shows how the gaslighting really kicks in, and could it be… Satan?

The Ice Road (Netflix film) — Did you want to see Liam Neeson in another snowy film, as in The Grey? Or did you even want to see him once again playing a trucker in another snowy film, as in Cold Pursuit? Well, you’re in luck because Neeson is doing the latter type of movie, and his big-rig ice-road driver is attempting to lead a rescue mission atop a frozen ocean, but there’s a storm and thawing water, and good luck, Liam Neeson.

And back to the scheduled programming here:

The Choe Show: (Friday, FX 10:00 & 10:42pm) — Provocateur-artist David Choe paints literal and figurative photos of his subjects, and this week, his subjects include Will Arnett, Asa Akira, Kat Von D, and Denzel Curry.

Betty: (Friday, HBO 11:00pm) — The main players are all back: Rachelle Vinberg as Camille, Ajani Russell as Indigo, Dede Lovelace as Janay, Moonbear as Honeybear, and Nina Moran as Kirt. This week, Kirt grows even more notorious, Indigo helps Camille with photos, Honeybear branches out, and Janay’s struggling with a new endeavor.

Kevin Can F**k Himself (Sunday, AMC 9:00 p.m.) — Allison realizes what’s really going on at Patty’s salon while the nightmare at home includes a boys’ chili cookoff.

The Chi (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — Motherhood isn’t too easy for Kiesha in terms of adjustment, and Papa’s attempting to broker some peace with Kevin and Jake.

Black Monday (Sunday, Showtime 10:00 p.m.) — Everyone must cooperate for some group therapy that initially looked like an interrogation.

Flatbush Misdemeanors (Sunday, Showtime 10:30 p.m.) — Dan struggles through Zoom therapy with a perhaps-too-honest therapist, all while his roommate tensions with Kevin collide with neighbor-friction.

Rick and Morty (Sunday, Adult Swim, 11:00pm) — This week, the episode is actually called “Mortyplicity,” and maybe, just maybe, this is when the show Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland-led project (newly back for Season 5) drags the self-serious “mulitiverse” concept that’s so damn popular in comic-book worlds these days. Oh boy.

Desus & Mero (Sunday, Showtime 11:00 p.m.) — The duo’s back with more illustrious guests.

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (Sunday, HBO 11:00 p.m.) — Please let John Oliver tackle Ted Cruz and take more swings at Tucker Carlson.

Here are some more fresh streaming picks:

The Mysterious Benedict Society: Season 1 Premiere (Disney+ series) — Gather round for this adaptation of Trenton Lee Stewart’s bestselling book series about a group of orphans who are recruited by Mr. Benedict, who is very peculiar, to save the world from “The Emergency.” Together, the orphans must infiltrate an underworld society to uncover the truth about why the globe’s gone so wrong, and except the unexpected when it comes to revelations about the source of this crisis. Tony Hale stars, along with Kristen Schaal and Ryan Hurst (RIP, Opie from Sons of Anarchy).

Too Hot To Handle: Season 2 (Netflix series) — This frustratingly horny dating show’s all about figuring out whether any of the sexy singles can withstand the no-kissing and no-heavy-petting and no-masturbation rules of the house. It’s somehow sexy but not-sexy at the same time, and the show’s inspired by a Seinfeld episode, in which Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer all tried super-hard to withstand the urge to self-pleasure themselves. I dunno, man. Questions of proof abound, but people sure are entertained by this Netflix show.

Who Are You, Charlie Brown? (Apple TV+ film) — Here’s an ode to the most famous (and beloved) blockhead of all time. You’ll see that on the animation side, but there’s much more here with the splicing of old footage to detail the life and times of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schultz. This is so much better than watching It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown for the umpteenth time.

Sex/Life: Season 1 (Netflix series) — This show revolves around a love triangle, but it’s an atypical one between a woman, her husband, and her past while grappling with her current life as a stay-at-home suburban wife. Billie realizes that she misses her wild New York City life while still enjoying domesticity in Connecticut. This leads Billie to do something perhaps unwise: take up journaling about her past sex life. Then, of course, her husband finds the journal, and you should probably expect a ton of drama.

Britney Spears is in the news this week for publicly discussing her “abusive” conservatorship. During a court appearance in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the pop star spoke candidly about wanting to end her father’s legal control over his life. “I’ve been in denial. I’ve been in shock. I am traumatized,” Spears said. “I just want my life back.”

After noticing the public’s fixation on Spears, who says that she was forced to work against her will, Fox News’ “Nazi Barbie” used one of the singer’s most iconic lyrics to make a point about… not working. Lahren, who once dressed up like Spears, tweeted:

To all the free loaders still collecting taxpayer funded government unemployment $$ and refusing to work.. In the words of the great Britney Spears, “you better work B*TCH!”

Oops!… Tomi did it (a Bad Tweet) again.

“You’re upset that people get an extra $300 but you are okay with rich people paying no tax? … As a side note raise the minimum wage!” one reply reads, while another Twitter user pointed out, “Not everyone can make a few thousands by taking pictures of products they “like” for IG stories, tomi. You sound so distant from reality…” But people were most upset by Lahren quoting Britney Spears. She’s been through enough.

But what I want to know is:

That is much too early to be upset.

Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm and blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.

This week is highlighted by Jazmine Sullivan’s latest single, “Tragic,” the singer’s first release since she dropped her Heaux Tales EP at the beginning of the year. Justine Skye also arrives with her third album, Space And Time, which features heavy production from Timbaland and Snoh Aalegra continues to promote her upcoming album, Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies, with her latest track, “Lost You.”

Jazmine Sullivan — “Tragic”

Less than two weeks into 2021, Jazmine Sullivan made her return to the R&B world with her Heaux Tales EP. To this day, the project stands as one of the best releases of the year and it’s an effort she’s backed up and promoted with elegant performances. Now, she’s back with a brand new song, titled “Tragic,” that fits right in the pocket of Heaux Tales. Could this mean there’s a deluxe reissue on the way?

Justine Skye — Space And Time

Just a year after releasing Bare With Me (The Album), Justine Skye returns with her third full-length effort, Space And Time. It’s a 12-track project heavily produced by Timbaland with guest appearances from Justin Timberlake and Rema. The project itself was born through the space and time that the 2020 pandemic gave both Skye and Timbaland and it absolutely benefitted the former. “I found a different level of confidence in myself and in my sound,” she said in an interview with Apple Music.

Snoh Aalegra — “Lost You”

This August will mark two years since Snoh Aalegra dropped her sophomore album, Ugh, Those Feels Again. It was heralded as one of the best R&B releases from that year and now, the Swedish singer is gearing up for her third effort. With Temporary Highs In The Violet Skies out next month, Aalegra shares “Lost You,” a gloomy ballad that finds her struggling between staying or walking away from a faulty relationship.

Duckwrth — “Make U Go”

Duckwrth’s 2020 album, SuperGood, was dressed in the funkiest sounds thanks to standout efforts like “Kiss U Right Now” and “Super Bounce.” After letting the protect marinate with listeners, he returns to action with “Make U Go.” The easy-going track brags about the moves he’ll put on a special woman when they join each other in bed and it’s a song that continues Duckwrth’s streak of impressive releases.

Nao — “Messy Love”

Today’s generation of R&B listeners enjoy songs about toxic love as much as they do efforts about newfound love and the fairytale moments that come with it. However, in Nao’s eyes, she has no desire to deal with any of this toxicity. That’s what her new song, “Messy Love,” focuses on as she states repeatedly the breezy track. Standing as her second single of the year, it looks like the singer’s third album could be right around the corner.

Njomza — Limbo

Almost three years after giving us her last project, 2018’s Vacation, Njomza makes her long-awaited return with Limbo. It’s an effort that captures the singer’s feelings that emerged during last year’s pandemic, and how she steered through it. Limbo also sees contributions from Ari Lennox, Russ, WurID, and Metro Mars.

Cautious Clay — Deadpan Love

Years after releasing strong EPs with well-crafted songs that shined a light on his growing talents, Cleveland native Cautious Clay finally arrives with his debut album. Deadpan Love arrives with 14 songs and a lone guest feature from fellow Midwesterner Saba. “Deadpan Love is something that I have inside me; the way I cope with the worst of what the world has to offer,” the singer said in a press release about the album and its title.

Young Rog — Boy Next Door

While LVRN’s talented roster boasts favorites like Summer Walker, 6lack, and Westside Boogie, it also holds a cast of newcomers that are worth paying attention to. This includes Virginia native Young Rog who signed on to LVRN in 2018. After years of working on his craft, he emerges with a new project, Boy Next Door which delivers ten tracks with help from 6lack, Summer Walker, and Freddie Gibbs.

Loony — Soft Thing

If you’re looking for a relaxing body of work to enjoy this weekend, Toronto’s Loony has just that for you with her latest project, Soft Thing. Its eight songs paint a picture of Loony’s mind as she traversed through the 2020 pandemic. Soft Thing also details love in its many forms and how Loony experienced it all.

Symphani Soto — Under The Sun

South Florida native Symphani Soto is a new name you should definitely pay attention to. She just dropped her new project, Under Sun, and it’s a breezy and relaxing effort perfect for an afternoon drive or a warm evening at the beach. Holding eleven tracks in total, Under Sun is a mostly solo effort aside from a guest appearance from Eric Bellinger.

Inayah — Side A

Back in 2019, Inayah would finally see her moment in the R&B spotlight thanks to her breakout single, “Best Friend.” The Houston native is now looking to reach a higher level with her new EP Side A. Led by two singles, “What Are We” and “Fallin,” Inayah taps into a ’90s/’00s sound to deliver a nostalgic reminder of the good times.

Sakura — Don’t Overthink It

Atlanta’s Sakura steps forth with a new EP, Don’t Overthink It. It follows a string of singles she released throughout 2020 and altogether, the project emphasizes trusting your gut and not second-guessing life’s purest moments.