GoneTrending

In mid-March, music lovers went understandably and rightfully berzerk after news that legendary R&B groups The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind & Fire would be the next big names to hit up Verzuz, social media’s hottest head-to-head music battle. The musicians are slated to appear on the program April 4, and fans can stream the event via the Verzuz Instagram and Triller pages.

Originally a gospel quartet who became popular in the late 1950s, The Isley Brothers broke new ground in the ’70s after proving their mastery over the pop and funk sounds. They are among one of the only acts in popular music history to have singles hit the Billboard charts in five separate decades, and because of their inimitable career, they received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Earth, Wind, & Fire is considered one of the most innovative groups to ever do it, often using their work to combine elements of R&B, funk, disco, Latin, and pop. They are one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, with sales of over 90 million records, and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Each group’s influence and legacy lives on in our hearts and headphones, and throughout the last few decades, several artists have paid homage to these acts in some way, shape, or form. You may not even realize it, but some of the most popular songs in contemporary R&B and hip-hop have celebrated these two iconic groups through song covers, samples, and interpolations.

To gear up for Verzuz on Easter Sunday, take a listen to some of the best uses of The Isley Brothers and EW&F’s work in modern songs.

Big Pun’s “Still Not A Player” Interpolates Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Beijo (Interlude)”

The late rapper’s staple song, a remix to his debut “I’m Not A Player,” is perhaps more well-known and more successful than the original. (The remix hit No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998, while the OG peaked at No. 57 in 1997.) The track, produced by music maker Minnesota, not only interpolates R&B crooner Joe’s “Still Not A Player,” it ties in one of the most catchy moments of EW&F’s popular interlude from their 1977 album, All N’ All. Get your best speakers out in order to hear Joe croon “Punisher…Punisher…Punisher, Big Punisher” to the original’s recognizable tune.

The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Big Poppa” Samples The Isley Brothers’ “Between The Sheets”

Christopher Wallace was no stranger to using an R&B or soul-driven sample in his work, evident by the Herb Alpert sample in “Hypnotize” and the Diana Ross sample in “Mo Money Mo Problems,” to name just a few. “Big Poppa” in particular (which in 1996 would receive two Grammy nominations) signaled a stylistic shift for the rapper by utilizing a slower, more sensual groove to pair his rhymes with, and The Isley Brothers’ baby-making hit definitely fit the bill.

Plies’ “Shawty” feat. T-Pain Samples Earth, Wind, & Fire’s “Fantasy”

Throughout the hip-hop collaboration, a loop of the piano intro from “Fantasy” can be heard in the background. While subtle in order to let Plies and Pain’s verses do the talking, the sample is undeniable. Like most songs featuring samples and interpolations from already-popular artists, Maurice White, Verdine White, and Eddie del Barrio of EW&F have songwriting credits on “Shawty.”

Thundercat’s “Them Changes” Samples The Isley Brothers’ “Footsteps In The Dark”

“Them Changes,” found on Thundercat’s 2017 album Drunk, is perhaps one of his most recognizable songs today. This is fitting, considering “Footsteps In The Dark” is one of the hallmarks of The Isley Brothers’ catalogue. The tone is instantly set with the original tune’s iconic opening drum beats. However, Thundercat makes the song his own by including lyrics with gory imagery, which we learn is symbolic of heartbreak and love lost. In a 2020 interview, the Grammy-winning musician says he’s thrilled that “Them Changes” “translated the way it did,” and that he hopes the tune “sticks around forever.”

Yo-Yo’s “You Can’t Play With My Yo-Yo” feat. Ice Cube Samples Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Devotion”

The 1991 song slingshot the rapper into the public’s consciousness, and set her apart from her contemporaries as a self-assured and strong woman. Sonically, listeners are treated to a combination of timeless throwback energy with hip-hop’s infectious rhythms, from a crinkling record noise to kick off the beat to a thumping bass that mixes in seamlessly with EW&F’s cool and collected style.

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘I” Samples The Isley Brothers’ “That Lady”

The first single off of K. Dot’s To Pimp A Butterfly was written in order to instill confidence in his listeners. While the project largely pertains to commentary on society’s negative effects on the Black community, “I” serves as a triumphant tune with a positive perspective. What makes “I”s use of “That Lady” stand out is that elements of the sample were recorded live with Ronald Isley (instead of just using the original version), which provides an unfinished yet classic feeling for the listener.

“You can actually hear him on the record with a few ad-libs that he actually did,” Lamar says of working with Isley. “We got it on camera and things like that, it’s a beautiful thing.” Isley is also a featured artist on “How Much A Dollar Cost?” from the same album.

Queen Pen’s “Party Ain’t A Party” Samples Earth, Wind & Fire’s “On Your Face”

This Teddy Riley-produced hit features a delicious twist on EW&F’s popular Spirit album cut, which is not an entirely unexpected choice given Riley’s reverence for using classic R&B samples in his ’90s production staples. (SWV’s “Right Here” samples Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature,” Blackstreet’s “Let’s Stay In Love” samples “Say You Love Me, One More Time” by D. J. Rogers.) The result of this particular production decision is a bonafide party starter that put the young rapper on the map in 1997.

Aaliyah’s “At Your Best (You Are Love)” Is A Cover Of The Isley Brothers’ Song Of The Same Name

Fresh on the scene as a budding musical ingenue, Aaliyah Haughton’s cover of The Isley Brothers’ “At Your Best” for her 1994 debut Age Ain’t Nothin’ But A Number catapulted her to stardom. Her version of the track — which was considered somewhat of a deep cut for the group — became more popular than the original ’70s version, and its remix brought the song to new heights. After her death in 2001, Ronald Isley said that the group was “devastated,” and they dedicated several performances of the song to her in the aftermath of her passing.

“I met this young lady when she was 15,” Isley said during a concert set in 2001. “She said, ‘Your group is my favorite group. I’m recording one of your songs. This is a favorite of mine.’”

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

Comedian Kelly Bachman has been thinking a lot about Tina Turner. That’s partly because she just finished watching the icon’s devastating documentary on HBO, but it’s also because she’s been grappling with what it means to inadvertently become the symbol for something. Bachman got a taste of what that’s like in late 2019 when she went on stage to perform at an invite-only comedy night in New York City and used the opening minute of her set to call out Harvey Weinstein – the disgraced Hollywood producer who was then facing a litany of sexual assault allegations. (He would go on to be found guilty of sexual assault charges in New York where he was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Separate criminal cases in California are still ongoing.)

Bachman was both booed and cheered for confronting the elephant in the room, but it’s what happened next that helped her understand Turner’s story better. She’d write op-eds for The New York Times and Glamour, detailing the incident and opening up about her own experience of being raped. She’d eventually craft a musical comedy show, cheekily titled “Rape Victims Are Horny Too,” that she’d perform a handful of times before Covid shut down clubs in the city. And she’d be approached by Andrea Blaugrund Nevins to star in Hysterical, a new documentary airing on FX April 2nd, that charts the history of women in stand-up and sports an enviable line-up of intimidatingly talented comedians (think Judy Gold, Iliza Schlesinger, Margaret Cho, Sherri Shepherd, and Jessica Kirson just to name a few).

For an artist who’d only started doing standup a handful of years before all this, the viral consequences of a moment of bravery in the basement of a New York comedy club were unexpected … and probably overwhelming. But Bachman’s rise to fame, with its triumphs and challenges that mirror other women featured in the doc, is also an eye-opening case study that shines a light on the best (and worst) parts of the #MeToo movement. We chatted with the comedian about the fallout from Weinstein, the exhaustive nature of joking about rape, and what she thinks of some male comic “allies” who aren’t doing enough.

On a scale of 1-10, how tired are you of being asked about Harvey Weinstein?

With 10 being the most tired? I would say, it was definitely a 10 by November of 2019. But now, I don’t get asked as much. I think, what I am more tired of than being asked about Harvey Weinstein is, when I go on a comedy show, or a comedy podcast and people specifically ask me about my trauma. I’ll go on a podcast that’s supposed to be a fun podcast where the topic is jokes, and sex, and drugs, and whatever podcasts talk about. And then, they’re like, “So, tell us about what happened when you were 17.” And I’m like… “Oh.”

That’s a pivot.

They’re like, “That’s your thing, right? You like to talk about that a lot.” And I’m like, “I don’t know what people expect.” It’s not even going to be funny when I’m asked those questions. I’m not. I get sad, and I’m emotional like a person would be. It’s one thing when I’m performing. I do have a show where I make jokes for an hour about this. But they’re not ready to go. It’s something I have to emotionally prepare for and do in my own time. But when I go on a podcast, the podcast then inherently becomes very not funny. And I feel kind of guilty about that, because I’m like, “Oh, the podcast was really depressing.”

Naturally. Even a comedian who has done that kind of material can’t make sexual assault funny all the time.

Right. I feel bad, because people Google me, and they find all of this stuff where I’m being really sad, and have this traumatized look in my eyes, and I’m like, “I don’t talk like that.” If you pull that out of me, it comes out of me. I look back on a lot of interviews I’ve done and stuff, I just cringe, because I’m like, “I don’t even talk like that.”

Do you feel like you’re the de-facto authority on that stuff when you do interviews like that, just because you’ve been open about your personal experience?

It happens. Not just when I’m interviewed, either. I’ll start a new job, and my coworkers that are not comedians will find out who I am, and they’ll all start asking questions about cancel culture, and what do I think about “X”-named comic. Or if I go on a date, some dates will Google me and find out who I am, and ask what I think about this person’s special. People treat me like I’m a magic eight ball for predators like I’m supposed to tell them what they’re supposed to think about it, and they’ll argue with me. Sometimes I’ll walk into rooms of someone I’m dating, their friends will assume I’m going to police them and call everyone out. That’s my whole deal. It can feel like I have a sign on my head that I represent something to people. For some people, they’ll see me, and I represent the idea of cancel culture or something they want to talk about. For other people, they want to paint me as a hero, or this feminist who’s always going to call things out when I see it. People are just a lot more complicated than that.

It’s almost like, when does being honest about your own experience cross a line into becoming the face of a movement?

I’ve had trouble speaking up for myself in my life. I really have had to work on that a lot. I remember feeling something like imposter syndrome after [Weinstein} happened. I was like, “I haven’t called out any of my own rapists.” People have this idea about me like I’m this fearless person, but the circumstances of that were specific, in that I was calling out someone when he’s already a pariah. Most people in the world agree that they don’t like him. I didn’t really feel like I was going to get destroyed for that. I was really nervous about it. I was nervous, that he still had the power to hurt me. I remember texting people I was working with saying, “Can he still tank the project I’m trying to pitch right now? How does that work?” I really wasn’t sure about that kind of thing. But in the grand scheme of the world, I pretty much knew that people would already feel like I had shifted the narrative in that way.

But there was still backlash, even for calling out the most-hated figure in Hollywood at the time.

Yeah, at the beginning of 2020, it became such a big part of my life. So many of my interactions with people telling me I should talk about it on stage, or I shouldn’t talk about it on stage, or I’m an opportunist, or I need to keep going and carry the torch, or whatever. I really hid from comedy. I really didn’t feel okay around people in general at the beginning of the year. And then, of course, quarantine hit, and I’m like, “Okay, I take it back. I’m okay. I’ll go outside, I’ll do anything.”

The doc really explores the history of women in comedy but you’re fairly new to the scene. Knowing your experience, and what women before you went through, are things better now?

Overall, things are improving. My part of the story in the documentary, I think it brings attention to [the fact] that there are always rooms where things haven’t changed. Even if things have changed overall, you can always find a room where people are going to say the things that the documentary is talking about. You’ll find the room where people are telling you to shut up when you get off stage, or making jokes about you being a woman. There are some rooms where every lineup is still all men except for the one woman, where the lineups are all white people. Some parts of comedy are making more of an effort to change and be inclusive, and some people are the old guard that is not letting go.

Is it tough, to see those male comedians who were your heroes growing up, plant themselves on the opposite side in some of these conversations about “cancel culture” and sexism and racism…

You don’t want to be the person who sh*ts on other comics.

Sure.

Like “Oh, that person, they said the wrong thing, but I would never.” It’s like, “Yes, I would. I will. I will f*ck up.” I think that’s one of the things that scares me about the narrative that’s been written for me. It puts me up on a pedestal, and I didn’t ask to be up there. If you put yourself up there, then you’re more likely to fall down. But what I will say is that I remember when the #MeToo movement was really busting wide open with the accusations around Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, and a bunch of others. I remember I was really waiting for some of my heroes to say something. I thought, “They’re going to tell them.” I was like, “You know who we need? We need ‘X’ comedian to come back and say something. That’s going to be awesome.” And then, those comedians would say something, and it would be really disappointing. It was actually was very motivating for me because these are people who are hilarious, who are making these hilarious takes that I don’t agree with at all. They’re making really comedically sound takes that are hurtful to me personally. So, my thought to that was like, “I don’t want to tell this person to stop saying that,” but it made me realize I need to be my own champion.

I think that’s probably one of the better lessons to take from all this — certainly to take from the doc.

Right? I think Dave Chapelle said during his Mark Twain acceptance speech that “Everyone has a champion in the room” when it comes to comedy. I think I realized, I need to stop waiting for someone to be the voice that represents me, and just represent myself.

Hysterical airs on FX on April 2nd at 9 p.m. ET.

In last week’s episode of Indiecast, Steven Hyden and Ian Cohen reflected on the year-end lists they made in 2011. They spent time discussing albums like Real Estate’s Days and M83’s Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, albums that were very highly regarded at the time.

This week, they are using the benefit of hindsight to revise those lists and name the albums that might have flown under the critical radar in 2011, but we can acknowledge today to have been very influential. For Hyden, these are albums like The War On Drugs’ Slave Ambient and Wye Oak’s Civilian, while Cold Cave’s Cherish The Light Years and Drake’s Take Care still reign supreme in Cohen’s mind.

In this week’s Recommendation Corner, Hyden is plugging Course In Fable, the new album from Ryley Walker that’s out today. Cohen, on the other hand, is digging through some obscure recent uploads on Bandcamp to showcase some new names like Get Well, Kid and Twinkle Park.

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 33 on Apple Podcasts and Spotify below, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts here. Stay up to date and follow us on Instagram and Twitter. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

The War On Drugs is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Today brings the release of Demi Lovato’s ultra-personal new album Dancing With The Devil… The Art Of Starting Over, and Lovato recruited a handful of collaborators to help tell her story. One of those is friend Ariana Grande, who co-wrote and sings alongside Lovato on album cut “Met Him Last Night.”

Lovato spoke about the track on SiriusXM’s The Morning Mash Up today, saying:

“I’d actually played her my album, or what had been done of it, in 2019. And one of those songs was “Dancing With The Devil,” so she knew about the story behind it and everything and she’s a close friend of mine, so she knew my story pretty well. So when she started writing this song, she actually thought about me and she wrote the song with me in mind, and then she played it for me. I was like, ‘I love it. You should just stay on the track.’ And she was like, ‘No no, I’ll be like mystery harmony lady.’ I was like, ‘I feel like the world would love to hear us together, we should do that.’ And she was like, ‘Are you sure?’ And I was like, ‘Yes!’ So she added her vocals and she’s so talented, so, so great, and I’m so grateful to have a friend like her.”

Listen to “Met Him Last Night” above.

Dancing With The Devil… The Art Of Starting Over is out now via Island. Get it here.

Welcome back to UPROXX Sports’ Athlete Heat Index, where sports marketing executive and self-described “brand geek” Michael Ehrlich ranks athletes by the strength of their personal brands.

The second installation of the series is inspired by Major League Baseball’s Opening Day and explores the top athlete brands heading into the new season. While declining pre-pandemic attendance and TV ratings, combined with an older fan base, have proved challenging for MLB stars to break through, the league seems to be on the cusp of a transition.

A younger generation of players are challenging the status quo, the “unwritten rules” of baseball, and taking their personal brands into their own hands, all while trying to make baseball fun again. The league even launched a new #MakeItMajor start of season campaign featuring the star players who are pushing the game forward.

Here are a five who have cracked the code and authentically build their unique brands in a game primed for a refresh.

5. Taijuan Walker, New York Mets

Although not the big name Mets offseason acquisition that we’ll discuss later in the ranking, Walker’s recent off-field venture will certainly ensure his personal brand remains in the news for the foreseeable future.

With the launch of his own digital collectible card, Walker became the first active MLB player to enter the NFT space, garnering headlines across the sports, business, and tech industries. Any time you can be the “first” at anything, it’s a huge win for your brand.

Yes, there are major expectations for Walker and the Mets this upcoming season, but prior to his NFT launch, there was minimal conversation about the pitcher’s personal brand. This debut for Walker follows Rob Gronkowski and Patrick Mahomes leading the personal NFT launches in the NFL last month.

A self-described “Crypto-fanatic,” Walker’s NFT sold for the equivalent of $4,275, which will be donated to his team’s Amazin’ Mets Foundation. The sale certainly pales in comparison to Mahomes ($3.7 million) and Gronk ($1.75 million), but from a brand perspective, that doesn’t matter. He gains brand strength by the association with those two All-Pros and Super Bowl champs, and because he was the first MLB player to enter the space, he will be mentioned alongside any and all future players who join the craze. When Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. launches his own NFTs this month, Walker’s name will be featured in coverage of the MVP candidate.

Genius marketing for Walker’s brand — especially because the NFT launch was authentic to his own interests — which did more for his personal narrative than any traditional endorsement deal could. Regardless of how he pitches or how the Mets play this season, his name will be attached to the constant conversation around players launching their own NFTs.

4. Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers

A unique physical look while playing in a major media market continues to elevate Turner as one the most interesting personal brands in baseball, especially now as a member of the defending champs.

The Dodgers third baseman’s famous long red hair and beard are slightly trimmed for Opening Day but will no doubt grow to epic lengths yet again in the coming weeks, continuing to differentiate him on-field and across the league. Even the casual fan can recognize Turner from a distance — whether on TV, in a stadium, or across any form of marketing — which is rare for the sport but an easy and effective brand strategy that works across all fields.

Dieting and offseason body transformations doesn’t typically garner much media coverage and fan conversation in baseball — usually reserved for football and basketball — so Turner’s Whole30 diet and svelte new look made waves across the league in Spring Training. Ideally this allows the 36-year-old to extend his career and garner even more recognition for his luscious locks.

Although the oldest personal brand on the Index, Turner’s recent “I’m Busy” challenge (thanks TikTok) connected him a bit more to the younger baseball fan. His commitment to the bit and subsequent reactions from manager Dave Roberts and Cody Bellinger, among other Dodgers, made this video go mainstream. With the eyes of the baseball universe on the defending champs, Turner has the opportunity to expand his narrative outside of just his unique physical differentiator, while setting the stage for his next chapter.

3. Francisco Lindor, New York Mets

The Mets’ gigantic offseason acquisition referred to earlier brought Lindor — one of baseball’s best shortstops — to the top media market in sports. It’s no coincidence that shortly thereafter the new face of the franchise graced the cover of Sports Illustrated’s season preview. The on-field game and ever-changing hair (now dyed Mets blue) of “Mr. Smile” speaks for itself. He was already one of the most unique athlete brands in baseball, but with the move from Cleveland to New York, Lindor’s narrative is now on display to the masses, with an opportunity to grow even more.

Shortly after arriving to his new team, New Balance announced Lindor will have the brand’s first-ever baseball signature shoe and apparel collection. The shortstop is only the third active MLB player with a signature cleat (Mike Trout/Nike, Bryce Harper/Under Armour) so he is in elite athlete brand company.

But what makes this partnership unique is that it tells the story of Lindor — from his childhood in Puerto Rico to his baseball journey to now becoming one of the most fashionable players in the sport — through bright colors and patterns inspired by Puerto Rico’s national flower, the Flor de Maga. This isn’t your typical athlete player collection, as it’s unisex and built with pieces for on and off-field wear, expanding the Lindor brand well outside just the baseball diamond.

Joining a stacked roster of young talent in the largest media market — combined with agreeing to a huge new 10-year, $341 million contract on the eve of Opening Day — means World Series expectations for Lindor and the Mets. Regardless of what happens on the field this season, all eyes will be on Mr. Smile in 2021.

2. Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres

If any player in the league has taken marketing into his own hands while pushing the game forward, it’s Tatis. At just 22 years old and fresh off signing a 14-year, $340 million contract, the Padres star is poised to be the face of baseball.

Although he plays in a smaller market and in the shadow of the defending champ Dodgers in Southern California, Tatis’ star power has gone mainstream. His unique style of play — his over-the-top bat flips, aggressive base running, and freakish power and athleticism — certainly connects with a younger demographic of baseball fans and brands have taken notice. His highlights trend nightly on social media and his Instagram has NBA player-like reach and engagement all while he consistently challenges the outdated traditions of baseball.

Tatis’ marketing portfolio is quite strong, especially for a MLB player only in his third season in the bigs. Featured in campaigns for adidas, BMW, Gatorade, Hyperice, and Oakley plus gracing the cover of video game MLB The Show 21, it’s hard not to see the MVP candidate’s face on TV, across social media, or in print. What makes his most recent commercial with adidas so impactful though is that it doesn’t push a product, instead authentically speaking to how Tatis is reinvigorating the league, rewriting the rules of baseball and challenging the older generation of fans to think differently about today’s game.

On any given night with a single highlight, even playing in a smaller market, Tatis has the opportunity to push the league into the future and connect with a younger fan. This is his brand superpower. The biggest opportunity for Tatis as he continues to build his brand is to focus on his story, what makes him unique and how he differentiates himself from everyone else in the league, beyond by just his on-field play.

1. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

Coming off a first season in Los Angeles that produced a World Series ring (with a dramatic home run in the clinching game), a Gold Glove, a Silver Slugger, and a runner-up finish in the NL MVP vote, Betts’ on-field brand has never been stronger. The expectations are even higher this year as LA Times columnist Bill Plaschke predicts the 2021 Dodgers will be the “greatest team in baseball history” with Betts as the face of the star-studded franchise.

However, it’s Betts’ off-field brand that separates himself from the competition. A revealing GQ profile (rare for MLB players to get coverage from top-tier lifestyle media) that highlighted his journey and life outside of baseball combined with a fun billboard stunt next to Fenway Park by Dodgers fan group Pantone 294 continued to elevate Betts’ narrative during Spring Training.

As one of the few Jordan Brand-sponsored MLB athletes, Betts appeared in the company’s recent “Here For A Reason” commercial showcasing the depth and breadth of its roster and how its on-court/on-field excellence is only a part of its impact. The spot features Jordan athletes at the forefront of the social justice movement over the last year, for which Betts led the way for the Dodgers and baseball overall.

Prior to the 2020 season, Betts leveraged his social channels and media availabilities to speak out on racial inequality and challenge the league’s slow response to George Floyd’s death. He continued to set the tone for the season by participating in a #Players4BLM video with other Black MLB stars in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. But this was just the start of Betts’ impact off the field throughout the season. From kneeling on Opening Day to sitting out against the Giants after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Wisconsin — teammates followed his lead and the league postponed the game — Betts garnered Jackie Robinson comparisons from manager Dave Roberts.

This coincided with the league’s celebration of Jackie Robinson Day where Betts narrated a tribute video reciting famous quotes from Robinson that were as poignant that week as they were when the Hall of Famer said them in the 1940-50’s. Continuing the momentum, Betts and The Players Alliance, made up of more than 100 Black current and former MLB players, donated their salaries that week to support the effort to fight racial inequality.

Betts’ on-field success is undeniable, but his greatest impact is leveraging his star power and the “Dodgers” on his chest to continue Robinson’s legacy as an ambassador for equality and to push for change across baseball and society as a whole.

Netflix greets spring with all of the fresh content that one could possibly hope for while the pandemic-mindset continues around the world. They’re releasing at least one original movie per week all year long, along with countless new and returning series. This week, the month of April begins with a faucet full of new stuff, including a movie that stars Idris Elba in a cowboy hat, and that’s nothing to be upset about. There’s also a mystery crime series (based upon a real story), a show that’s pretty much the opposite of any Marie Kondo joint, and some pranks if you actually like the April Fool’s thing. As usual, there’s far too much going on here, and no one will be mad about it.

Here’s everything else coming to (and leaving) the streaming platform this week.

Concrete Cowboy (Netflix film streaming 4/2)

Idris Elba in a cowboy hat should be enough of an attraction here, but assuming that you want to know about the all-important plot, here we go. A troubled teen (Caleb McLaughlin) spends the summer in North Philadelphia, where he’s torn between diving into a life or crime or embracing the urban-cowboy subculture that’s embodied by his estranged dad (Elba). The story’s based upon Ghetto Cowboy, the novel by G.Neri, and the film co-stars Jharrel Jerome, Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint, and Clifford “Method Man” Smith.

The Serpent (Netflix series streaming 4/2)

This series is inspired by real events with entirely scripted dialogue, all to bring viewers the saga of a serial conman, Charles Sobhraj, and law enforcement’s attempt to nab him. He and his girlfriend, Marie-Andrée Leclerc, became prime suspects in a series of murders of tourists, and they also carried out crime sprees in Asia during the mid 1970s. It’s up to a junior diplomat to help set off a chain of events to eventually help Sobhraj transform into the subject of arrest warrants around the world, which in turn makes him Interpol’s most wanted man.

Worn Stories (Netflix series streaming 4/1)

Marie Kondo-land, this ain’t. Closets become ground central for a supply of tales behind the meaning of particular articles of clothing. Whether it’s a pair of boots or a uniform, these cherished items launch funny, tragic, poignant, and celebratory themes, all interpreted through the eyes of cultural figures and talented storytellers.

Prank Encounters: Season 2 (Netflix series streaming 4/1)

Gaten Matarazzo of Stranger Things hosts this elaborate hidden-camera prank show that causes two complete strangers to collide while carrying out assignments that transform into supernatural surprises.

Haunted: Latin America (Netflix series streaming 3/29)

The chilling reenactments of paranormal house sightings comes to life, south of the U.S.-Mexico border, in this (theoretically) reality-based series.

Here’s a full list of what’s been added in the last week:

Avail. 3/26
A Week Away
Bad Trip
Big Time Rush: Seasons 1-4
Croupier
The Irregulars
Magic for Humans by Mago Pop
Nailed It!: Double Trouble

Avail. 3/29
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Rainbow High: Season 1

Avail. 3/30
7 Yards: The Chris Norton Story
Octonauts & the Ring of Fire

Avail. 3/31
At Eternity’s Gate
Haunted: Latin America

Avail. 4/1
2012
Cop Out
Friends with Benefits
Insidious
Legally Blonde
Leprechaun
Magical Andes: Season 2
The Pianist
The Possession
Prank Encounters: Season 2
Secrets of Great British Castles: Season 1
Tersanjung the Movie
The Time Traveler’s Wife
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family
White Boy
Worn Stories
Yes Man

Avail. 4/2
Concrete Cowboy
Just Say Yes
Madame Claude
The Serpent
Sky High

Avail. 4/3
Escape from Planet Earth

And here’s what’s leaving next week, so it’s your last chance:

Leaving 4/2
Honey: Rise Up and Dance

Leaving 4/4
Backfire

Leaving 4/11
Time Trap

Leaving 4/12
Married at First Sight: Season 9
Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning: Season 1

Leaving 4/13
Antidote

Leaving 4/14
Eddie Murphy: Delirious
The New Romantic
Once Upon a Time in London
Thor: Tales of Asgard

Welcome to our weekly streetwear roundup! This week brings a much stronger offering than last week’s options, with new collections from Supreme, British streetwear label Lazy Oaf, an extensive collection from Union LA and BornxRaised, new offerings for the spring-summer season from Anti Social Social Club, and a small drop by Melody Ehsani.

Each collection this week is keeping things seasonally appropriate with mostly light and layer-able offerings. But hey, if you’re looking for some fleece adorned with deeply religious imagery Supreme has got you covered.

If you’re looking for sneakers to complete your fit, be sure to hit up our weekly sneaker series after you scan this week’s apparel drops.

Supreme Spring Summer 2021

The Supreme Spring/Summer 2021 release schedule continues this week, which sees Supreme unloading more outerwear, this time on the lighter more spring-appropriate side, as well as long sleeves, graphic t-shirts, sweats, matching nylon pants, and jackets as well as some fresh headwear. Aside from the usual Supreme branded beanies, this week the brand will be unleashing a collaborative set of driving caps with Kangol. But the true highlight of the collection is the stained glass fleece jackets of St. Michael.

This is clearly the coolest you’ll ever look repping something you’d see in church.

Supreme is also dropping a box of Wheaties because I guess that’s what Supreme considers edgy and funny these days. To us, the joke lands flat.

The sixth Supreme Spring Summer 2021 drop is out now and available at the Supreme webstore.

Lazy Oaf Summer 2021 Collection

A few weeks back we shared the first drop of London label Lazy Oaf’s Summer 2021 collection and this week brings the collection’s second drop of three. This collection is pretty extensive, with 17 individual pieces that feature unisex streetwear staples like bucket hats (wouldn’t be a British brand without bucket hats), and unisex cords, as well as mini skirts, jumpsuits, loose dresses, hoodies, and sweats.

The collection relies heavily on the brand’s daisy-filled and muted pastel aesthetic, so if you’re looking for something not too flashy but still spring-ready, this is your brand.

Drop two of the Lazy Oaf Summer collection is available now at the Lazy Oaf webstore.

BornxRaised x Union 30th Anniversary Collection

Los Angeles-based streetwear brand Union has linked up with BornxRaised in celebration of the LA brand’s 30th anniversary, delivering a collection of graphic-heavy t-shirts and hoodies adorned with chenille detailing that feel strongly in both brands’ wheelhouses. Highlights from the collection include a patterned dog print shirt as well the Vanity portrait print long sleeve.

I couldn’t tell you why BornxRaised and Union have decided to show so much love to Vanity, the Canadian singer-songwriter and Prince side project, but hey, we’re not complaining when it looks this dope! Reminds us of early Supreme graphic portrait prints.

The BornxRaised x Union Anniversary Collection is set to drop on April 2nd at the BornxRaised webstore and the Union LA and Tokyo physical stores.

Melody Ehsani Wavy One Set

LA-based Melody Ehsani is dropping a matching shorts and jacket set that feels tailor-made for spring in Los Angeles. Dubbed the Wavy One set, this ocean-inspired tie-dye set features a modern boxy silhouette, inner-drawstrings, and is made from 100% nylon.

The Wavy One set is dropping in a size run of small to double XL. The brand also recently dropped a soft white Manifest hoodie that would also pair nicely with the Wavy One shorts if you don’t feel like doubling up on the pattern.

The Melody Ehsani Wavy One set is set to drop on April 2nd at the Melody Ehsani webstore.

Anti Social Social Club OverThinking Spring/Summer 2021 Collection

For Anti Social Social Club’s Spring Summer 2021 collection, the brand is going hard on graphics, lending their wavy logo aesthetic to a collection of t-shirts and hoodies, and other layer-able early spring essentials. Aside from the sometimes cringe-inducing slogans like “Stressed and Depressed,” the whole collection has a sort of DIY aesthetic to it. Like if a bunch of punk kids raided a tie-dye shop and started making their own band t-shirts.

Flowers and floral prints are a theme in this collection, but everything is spiked with Anti Social Social Club’s grimy vibe — providing a nice spin on the usual floral-tinged spring offerings of other brands around this time of year.

The Anti Social Social Club OverThinking Spring/Summer 2021 collection is set to arrive on April 3rd at the Anti Social Social Club webstore.

Last month, Freddie Gibbs went into the 2021 Grammys Awards as many fans’ favorite to win the Best Rap Album category thanks to his Alfredo album with The Alchemist. Unfortunately for both, the award would go to Nas and his King’s Disease. While a number of his supporters were disappointed with the pick, Freddie had nothing but jokes to let off about the decision. His nonchalance towards the loss can be found once again on his new track, “Big Boss Rabbit.”

Regarding the matter, he raps, “Grammy after party but we rock it like we won the b*tch.” The song was also released with a video that sees Freddie rapping with extreme confidence in all corners of his house as he totes a shotgun, records music with friends, and enjoys the company of strippers.

“Big Boss Rabbit” is just the latest single Freddie’s released since dropping Alfredo. Back in October, he linked with Big Sean and Hit-Boy for their “4 Thangs” which arrived with a video that present Freddie and Sean as a championship-winning basketball duo. In the new year he tapped Schoolboy Q for their relaxed “Gang Signs” collaboration. The three tracks could appear on the rapper’s upcoming solo project, which he partnered with Warner Records to release when the time comes.

Check out the video to “Big Boss Rabbit” above.

Freddie Gibbs is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

The streaming services are making it feel like summer by continuing to excel in the superhero department with the Marvel Cinematic Universe shows on Disney+ and a subversive new series on Amazon Prime, all while HBO Max continues to ride with Zack Snyder’s Justice League wave of comic book-fan redemption. However, things got very serious in the streaming world this week when a blockbuster fight came to small screens with Godzilla vs. Kong, which is only one reason why HBO Max can’t be beat this weekend. The WarnerMedia streaming service is also launching a darkly absurd comedy series (starring Cristin Milioti, Ray Romano, and Billy Magnussen) with a premise that fits right into our cynical little world. And the streamer’s also digging further into the QAnon rabbit hole and taking a dive into the nightmarish pandemic cruise world.

Yet the other streaming services are still putting up a good fight. While HBO Max is this week’s clear winner, Netflix is launching a typically plentiful supply of films and TV shows. Those selections include Idris Elba in a cowboy hat (!), and Hulu has a wonderfully intriguing new documentary plus some FX-on-Hulu next-day selections. Disney+ is keeping things going strong, and Amazon Prime’s continuing to soar to stratospheric heights. Here are the highlights of a great content weekend.

HBO Max

Made For Love (HBO Max series) — HBO Max recently struck dark-comedy gold with The Flight Attendant, and the WarnerMedia streamer is poised to do so again with Cristin Milioti maneuvering around a premise that’s even more dizzying than that of Palm Springs. Cristin stars as Hazel, and Ray Romano plays her father, who’s attempting to help her flee from a god-awful marriage with a guy (Billy Magnussen) who’s implanted a chip in her brain so that he can track her every move and emotion. It’s such a cynical spin on relationships, and it’s terrifying, all of it, to consider, but heck, this show will suck you into its compelling vortex. Did we mention that dad is a widower with a “synthetic partner”? Oh boy.

Godzilla vs. Kong (Warner Bros. film on HBO Max) — As you are well aware, we’ve seen a very long year without blockbusters (or almost any movies at all) in theaters, but a mega-blockbuster has arrived in both streaming and theatrical formats. It’s quite literally an actioner of gigantic proportions in a battle (starring Alexander Skarsgard and Rebecca Hall) for all of the ages. Not only does Kong punch Godzilla, but Godzilla punches back. It’s not quite Fast 9 in terms of ripped dudes with one-liners, but damn, it’s one hell of a movie event.

The Last Cruise (HBO film on HBO Max) — You will probably never want to set sail on a cruise ship again after watching this film, which charts the ill-fated Diamond Princess cruise ship that became ground central for the largest initial COVID-19 outbreak outside of China. The ship set sail from Japan on January 20, 2020, and on month later, at least 700 infections popped up, which symbolized a self-quarantined picture of how global normalcy was about to evaporate for at least one year. Hopefully, the new revelations about what transpired will act as a cautionary tale for budding future pandemics.

Q: Into the Storm (HBO Max limited series) — You’ve heard all of those wild QAnon conspiracy theories, and this weekend, this six-part documentary series continues to chronicle the movement’s evolution. Filmmaker Cullen Hoback drives into the rabbit hole to reveal how the mysterious “Q” wields conspiracies as information warfare to manipulate thinking and influence American culture. In the end, this series will touch upon the Internet’s darkest corners and explore how “unfettered free speech” (according to the synopsis) can go to dangerous places.

Netflix

Concrete Cowboy (Netflix film) — Idris Elba in a cowboy hat should be enough of an attraction here, but assuming that you want to know about the all-important plot, here we go. A troubled teen (Caleb McLaughlin) spends the summer in North Philadelphia, where he’s torn between diving into a life or crime or embracing the urban-cowboy subculture that’s embodied by his estranged dad (Elba). The story’s based upon Ghetto Cowboy, the novel by G.Neri, and the film co-stars Jharrel Jerome, Byron Bowers, Lorraine Toussaint, and Clifford “Method Man” Smith.

The Serpent (Netflix series) — This series is inspired by real events with entirely scripted dialogue, all to bring viewers the saga of a serial conman, Charles Sobhraj, and law enforcement’s attempt to nab him. He and his girlfriend, Marie-Andrée Leclerc, became prime suspects in a series of murders of tourists, and they also carried out crime sprees in Asia during the mid 1970s. It’s up to a junior diplomat to help set off a chain of events to eventually help Sobhraj transform into the subject of arrest warrants around the world, which in turn makes him Interpol’s most wanted man.

Worn Stories (Netflix series) — Marie Kondo-land, this ain’t. Closets become ground central for a supply of tales behind the meaning of particular articles of clothing. Whether it’s a pair of boots or a uniform, these cherished items launch funny, tragic, poignant, and celebratory themes, all interpreted through the eyes of cultural figures and talented storytellers.

Prank Encounters: Season 2 (Netflix series) — Gaten Matarazzo of Stranger Things hosts this elaborate hidden-camera prank show that causes two complete strangers to collide while carrying out assignments that transform into supernatural surprises.

Haunted: Latin America (Netflix series) — The chilling reenactments of paranormal house sightings comes to life, south of the U.S.-Mexico border, in this (theoretically) reality-based series.

Hulu

WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn (Hulu documentary) — Hippie-messianic leader Adam Neumann’s story gets the spotlight, along with the rise and fall of a venture-capitalist bubble-bursting for the ages. Former WeWork members, journalist, and experts come together to tell the tale of how this venture transformed into a unicorn investment while much more was going on behind the scenes.

Mayans M.C.: Season 3 episode (FX on Hulu) — This biker drama’s in a darker third gear with the club all wrestling with various personal and professional demons. This week, the M.C. attempts to solve their heroin problem while EZ’s attempting to figure out who let the club down.

Snowfall: Season 4 episode (FX on Hulu) — The John Singleton-co-created series sees Franklin blindsided while tracking down stolen cash is the name of the game for Teddy and Avi on a voyage to Panama.

Disney+

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Disney+ series) — After WandaVision proved that Marvel Studios and Kevin Feige could still bring their A+ game, even on the small screen, Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes are here for the buddy action-comedy that fans have dreamed of. Last week, the show mined the depths of systemic racism with a side of couple’s therapy, and Sharon Carter still hasn’t showed up, but she got a shoutout last week, so hopefully, we’ll see her kicking butt soon. Oh, and it’s Zemo time this week, so that should be plenty confrontational.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers (Disney+ series) — Emilio Estevez is back in this new-generation revival of the classic films. Co-starring Lauren Graham and Brady Noon, the Mighty Ducks junior hockey team is now a powerhouse in its division, and it’s brutal in selecting who can make the cut. Estevez is still the Ducks’ original coach, and he’s helping a new team of underdogs after the New Ducks boot a 12-year-old boy named Evan. Rude!

Amazon Prime

Invincible (Amazon Prime series) — This animated romp drops a new episode and pleases both fans of The Boys and The Walking Dead, and the latter reference has everything to do with the source material by Robert Kirkman. Invincible is an ultraviolent deconstruction of the superhero, and yes, we’ve seen plenty of dismantling already, but this story has heart. Stephen Yeun makes a fantastic leading man here, and the cast (J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Seth Rogen, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, Zachary Quinto, Mark Hamill, and several TWD names) is ridiculously good.

Shudder/AMC+

Creepshow: Season 2 (Shudder and AMC+ series) — The spooky anthology show returns with many, many featured players on board, including Ali Larter, C. Thomas Howell, Ted Raimi, Kevin Dillon, Anna Camp, Josh McDermitt, Adam Pally, and Ashley Laurence. Just FYI, the Marilyn Manson episode got axed following Evan Rachel Wood’s allegations against the so-called shock rocker.

Aaron Gordon’s time as a member of the Denver Nuggets has been pretty fruitful. The team is 3-0 since acquiring the high-flying forward at the NBA’s trade deadline, with their latest win coming in a 101-94 wire-to-wire victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. Gordon stuffed the stat sheet during the game, going for 14 points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals, and two blocks.

After the game, Gordon spoke with the TNT postgame show. Due to the fact that most of the normal crew is on NCAA Tournament duty, Adam Lefkoe, Kyle Korver, and Dwyane Wade are filling in alongside Shaquille O’Neal. As a result, Wade asked Gordon about something slightly out of left field: why he’s wearing 50 in Denver.

Whether or not Wade knew the answer already is unclear, but Gordon got the opportunity to discuss his Dunk Contest exploits.

“It spoke to me, man,” Gordon said. “You know, I got the most 50s ever in the Dunk Contest. It’s a good number for me, man. I feel like it’s strong, it’s powerful, and it just spoke to me, man. I’m rockin’ with it.”

Gordon probably got some joy out of reminding Wade of that fact, because Gordon missed out on winning the 2020 Dunk Contest in an instant classic with Derrick Jones Jr. Wade was a judge, and some have accused him of maybe pulling a fast one to help his former Miami Heat brethren come out on top. Gordon was vocally upset about how things went in Chicago, saying he is done competing in the event altogether moving forward.