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In the modern NBA, it’s increasingly rare that a player will spend his entire career with the same team. We are in the era of player empowerment, and the salary cap structure and the way contracts are set up under the CBA gives star players a lot more leverage in determining their futures.

Still, some teams never quite get over losing their franchise star, even a decade later. The Denver Nuggets, for instance, proved that they’re still nurturing a some hard feelings towards Carmelo Anthony for skipping town for the Knicks back in 2010 despite their recent success and bright future ahead

On Friday, the team’s Twitter account posted a graphic asking fans to vote on their favorite Nuggets player of all-time. You may have noticed that Melo is conspicuously absent from that image.

Plenty of other noticed as well and quickly took them to task for what seems like such a petty oversight, as Melo has a strong case for the best player in franchise history by almost any measure, although Nikola Jokic will likely have something to say about that when all is said and done.

And Melo’s current squad wasn’t about to take that slight lying down either. The Blazers Twitter account quickly fired back with a tweet of their own asking fans to vote for their favorite Blazer of all-time, which jokingly featured Melo alongside franchise greats like Bill Walton, Brandon Roy, Clyde Drexler, and Damian Lillard.

In fairness to the Nuggets, they were careful to use the word “favorite” instead of “greatest” or “best.” It’s a much more subjective term that allows for emotion to factor into the equation, but even that doesn’t account for snub against a superstar who spent seven seasons and a large chunk of his prime playing years there. Regardless, it’s given fans something to talk about on the first Friday of the offseason.

After staying quiet for most of this decade, Michigan band Salem, who are credited with pioneering the witch house genre, are gearing up for a new album. They returned to the scene last month with a fuzzy track and are now announcing their upcoming record, “Fires In Heaven” with the sinister single “Red River.”

Composed of musicians Jack Donoghue and John Holland, Salem said their “Red River” single points to the band’s willingness to let their guard down in their upcoming music. “There has always been a lot of surrender in our music,” the band said. “People tend to pick up on the negative aspects, and in the past, that was what we were going through. But surrender has always been the core element.”

Salem first made their return in mid-September. The duo shared the song “Starfall” along with an eye-catching video. To film the visual, the duo followed a group of storm chasers, people who drive across the country following hurricanes and tornados. The result was an exciting and terrifying collection of clips set to the ominous single.

Listen to “Red River” above and see Salem’s Fires In Heaven album art and tracklist below.

1. “Capulets”
2. “Fires In Heaven”
3. “Crisis”
4. “Sears Tower”
5. “Starfall”
6. “Wings”
7. “Red River”
8. “Old Gods”
9. “Braids”
10. “DieWithMe”
11. “Not Much Of A Life”

Fires In Heaven is out 10/30 via Salem/Decent. Pre-order it here.

Getting a song stuck in your head can be infuriating. For those instances when even recalling the earworm’s lyrics are impossible, Google has unveiled a new feature. Thanks to their algorithm, Google has launched a hum-to-search feature on their app, allowing users to simply whistle or hum a snippet of a song to search for its title.

Google laid out the new feature in a handful of steps. Users can tap their mic button on the Google app and ask, “What’s this song?” Alternatively, users can click the “Search a song” button and proceed to hum a 10-15 second section of the song they’re looking for. For those who have a Google phone, the feature is easily accessible by asking, “Hey Google, what’s this song?” and then humming the tune.

Along with pulling up the song title, Google’s new search feature presents a wealth of information on the track. Users can explore facts about the artist, as well as view music videos, listen on a variety of streaming apps, search through the lyrics, read an analysis, and also see if other recordings of the track are available.

Explaining how the feature works on their blog, Google wrote:

When you hum a melody into Search, our machine learning models transform the audio into a number-based sequence representing the song’s melody. Our models are trained to identify songs based on a variety of sources, including humans singing, whistling or humming, as well as studio recordings. The algorithms also take away all the other details, like accompanying instruments and the voice’s timbre and tone. What we’re left with is the song’s number-based sequence, or the fingerprint. We compare these sequences to thousands of songs from around the world and identify potential matches in real time.

For former vice president Joe Biden, the road to the White House apparently doesn’t get unlocked until you have a three-star rating for his Animal Crossing island. The Democratic nominee for the highest office in the land is taking his campaign to the digitial universe inside Nintendo’s quarantine hit about catching bugs and fish and overall just kinda vibing out.

The Biden campaign announced on Friday that Biden would be available to voters in the game, with a Dream Code that takes gamers to Biden’s island where he, while wearing aviator shades, will yell “No malarkey” at you. For some, Animal Crossing has allowed them to escape what’s been a difficult year all around, so perhaps to them this will be a bit of an intrusion. But the nice thing about the relaxing game is that what you do in it is, well, really up to you.

For those what want to check out what Biden is up to in the game, they can hop over to see his house, pose for photos in front of various American-themed things on the island, and just generally run around and use emotions like you always do when visiting someone else’s Animal Crossing island.

According to the campaign, Biden’s home is actually his campaign HQ and each room has a specific theme.

On the first floor, there are field office rooms prompting players to “Text AC to 30330” and help the campaign textbank and phonebank — and also receive an exclusive merchandise item via a design code.

Upstairs, Vice President Biden’s room features a young Joe Biden poster, a collection of aviators, and a car bed.

Right next to it is Senator Harris’ room, which includes a display of chucks, her iconic rainbow jacket, and a Howard University poster.

Downstairs is “Joe’s Train Town” — a live-action display of one of Vice President Biden’s favorite modes of transportation.

There’s also a voting booth on the island, which prompts players to visit IWillVote.com and make a plan for voting in November. There are also special logos and designs for exclusive clothing and, yes, lawn signs you can bring back to your own island. It’s not exactly using the game to protest Chinese oppression, but it’s certainly an interesting political use of a wildly popular game.

If you want to visit Biden’s island, you need to use the Dream Code DA-7286-5710-7478. No word on whether Donald Trump’s campaign will find a way to put him in Doom Eternal before election day, but we’ll keep you posted.

Last Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers took home their 17th title after beating the Heat in Game 6, tying them with arch rivals the Boston Celtics for the most championships in NBA history. For LeBron James, it marks the fourth title of his illustrious career, putting him in unique territory as the only player to win rings with three different organizations.

As LeBron continues to rack up the hardware, the case for him as the greatest player of all-time gets more and more compelling at every turn. For a certain segment of fans and hoops analysts, he’s already surpassed Michael Jordan for that distinction. But in the Venn diagram of former-nemeses-turn-NBA-broadcasters, there are some who don’t even have him in the top two.

Of course, that certainly wouldn’t have anything to do with a personal vendetta that’s gone on for more than 30 years now. No, Pistons legend Isiah Thomas would have us believe he arrived at that conclusion purely through a combination of fact, logic, and first-hand experience.

Thomas, in fact, has unleashed a flurry of Tweets on the topic this week.

The Thomas-Jordan feud got reignited earlier this year during the airing of The Last Dance when Michael revealed that he still carries a grudge against Isiah to this very day. And Thomas’ Tweets only ensure that it will carry on endlessly. Unfortunately, the same goes for the very GOAT debate that’s at the center of it.

20-year-old New Zealand singer Benee is basking in her breakout success. Her song “Supalonely” went viral on TikTok, earned a Platinum certification, and even caught the attention of Elton John. Now, following a handful of EPs, Benee is ready to release her debut album.

The singer announced her first full-length album Friday. Titled Hey U X, the 13-track effort boasts guest verses from big-name artists like Grimes, Flo Milli, and Lily Allen. Speaking to Uproxx ahead of her debut album’s announcement, Benee described how her first LP will take a different direction from her previous EPs.

“I think with this album, I haven’t really held back on experimenting with genres and even lyrics,” Benee said. “Maybe I would have been more hesitant to do some of the things that I’ve done on this album in my previous bodies of work. [..] I feel like some people who like my other stuff are going to hate this because it’s pretty different, but I had a lot of fun making it.”

Check out Benee’s Hey U X album art and tracklist below.

1. “Happen To Me”
2. “Same Effect”
3. “Sheesh” feat. Grimes
4. “Supalonely” feat. Gus Dapperton
5. “Snail”
6. “Plain” feat. Lily Allen & Flo Milli
7. “Kool”
8. “Winter”
9. “A Little While”
10. “Night Garden” feat. Kenny Beats & Bakar
11. “All The Time” feat. Muroki
12. “If I Get To Meet You”
13. “C U”

Lily Allen is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Hey U X is out 11/13 via Republic. Pre-order it here.

One of the many joys of watching Jeopardy! is the chance that Alex Trebek will be forced to say something very unusual. It seems to be a running gag among those writing the show these days, as question-writers keep putting pop culture references and profanity into his clues.

The Jeopardy! GOATS, you may recall, loved when Trebek said “bitchin’” during the Greatest Of All Time Tournament in January. Other moments of Trebek reading clues have gone viral in recent months, but another moment of fun from the show was when people realized that Cardi B’s “WAP” fits perfectly into the cadence of the Final Jeopardy song. In a related viral moment, people are now officially vibing to Trebek singing lyrics from Megan Thee Stallion after a clue about the rapper was on the show earlier in the week.

Clare McNear, who is writing a book about Jeopardy! that’s highly-anticipated in the game show community, shared an edited video of Trebek essentially rapping the lyrics to “Savage.” The clip features Trebek reading the clue, but turns the reading into the actual rhythm of the song and continues the lyrics with other moments from the show.

The video is actually from a Twitter account called @car_ideas, which is a very good I Think You Should Leave reference. On that page, you’ll find several different Jeopardy! and Alex Trebek mashups, including this supercut of Trebek saying “good for you” to contestants.

It’s also where another video you may have seen seems to have originated, which is a one-second clip of Trebek saying “DaBaby.”

It may seem unfair to misuse Trebek’s words like this, but the longtime Jeopardy! host truly does seem up for anything when it comes to clues on the show, so perhaps even he would appreciate the craftsmanship here.

First adopting the moniker with her 2016 debut Under The Influence, Dre Babinski returns to bulk up her Steady Holiday catalog. Babinski offered a Steady Holiday follow-up in 2018 and has remained relatively quiet ever since. But now, as Babinski gears up for her third full-length effort next year, the singer offers the serene single “Living Life.”

With cascading keys and anticipation-filling drums, “Living Life” gives snapshots of simple interactions over the course of one night. Babinski focuses in on certain details, like a woman’s wine-covered dress in a restaurant. “I pass a kid who holds a violin / I see myself in him / I recognize that happiness,” she sings.

In the accompanying visual, directed by Isaac Ravishankara, Babinski reflects on these moments as she rides on the back of a UPS truck through a quiet neighborhood. Occasionally smiling at people who pass, Babinski basks in the opportunity to take it all in.

In a statement about the track, Babinski said: “‘Living Life’ might be the most straightforward song I’ve written, and it’s about living with that same intention — doing things that come naturally, and not getting in your own way. The video is meant to capture that sentiment too. Be humble and direct, and appreciate moments as they happen.”

Watch Steady Holiday’s “Living Life” video above.

Thomas F. Wilson played one of the most recognizable villains in film history, Biff Tannen, in the “Back to the Future” series. So, understandably, he gets recognized wherever he goes for the iconic role.

The attention must be nice, but it has to get exhausting answering the same questions day in and day out about the films. So Wilson created a card that he carries with him to hand out to people that answers all the questions he gets asked on a daily basis.

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The FAQ page provides the inside scoop on hoverboards, manure, and even the word “butthead.” It also addresses Wilson’s feelings about his co-stars from the film. Evidently, Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd are “nice.”

Here’s what the card says.

“I’m Tom Wilson. I was in all three ‘Back To The Future’ movies. Michael J. Fox is nice. I’m not in close contact with him. Christopher Lloyd is nice. He is a very shy man. Crispin Glover is unusual, but not as unusual as he sometimes presents himself. We got along nicely. Lea Thompson is nice. Eric Stoltz originally played Marty, but was fired due to performance issues.

The first movie was shot in 1984 and ’85. The sequels were shot ‘back to back,’ never before attempted by a movie studio. The hoverboards didn’t really fly, we were hanging by wires from a crane. The manure was made of peat moss, cork, dirt, and a food agent that made it sticky. The Delorean was an inferior automobile, and nearly impossible for a person of normal size like myself to enter and exit.

There are many tiny plot points hidden in the movies, but I don’t know what they are. Among many improvisations of the set, I coined the term ‘butthead,’ as well as ‘Make like a tree, and get out of here.’ The third movie was my favorite, since I got to learn western skills like riding, roping, quick draw, and shooting a six-shooter, a great adventure for a guy from Philadelphia.

I hold my co-workers in the best light, but have no idea what any of them are doing right now. Steven Spielberg was the executive producer of the movie, but Robert Zemeckis directed it. Nobody had any idea that the movies would become a cultural touchstone, but the themes of friendship and adventure moved the audience so powerfully that I felt the need to create this postcard as a time-saver. It was the first movie I ever acted in, if you don’t count being killed in the Kung-Fu movie ‘Ninja Turf.’

Love is more important than material possessions. I made less money than you think. I don’t talk about the movies much because I’m busy with standup comedy and music performances. Those performances aren’t near the magnitude of the movies, but I find them enjoyable and satisfying, so that’s the area of my concentration.

I’ve performed on ‘The Tonight Show’ with both Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, but not at the same time. I’m pleased and proud of my acting credits, listed at imdb.com. I’m a painter as well. You can contact me at www.tomwilsonusa.com. Thank you and God bless you.”

Wilson also wrote a hilarious song that deals with the same questions.

Biff’s Question Song (Stand-up Comedy)

www.youtube.com

It’s fully fall. That means it’s time to learn how to make a new cocktail that captures the essence of the weather shifting and the leaves turning all shades of red and gold. This year, we’re going with the Negroni variation the Old Pal as our official cocktail of the season.

The Old Pal is one of those drinks that you may have never heard of, even if you’re a bespoke cocktail fan. It only pops up on cocktail bar menus at spots where they really get into Campari or Italian bitters. At its base level, the Old Pal is a more accessible version of the hefty boulevardier. Whereas the boulevardier is a bourbon or rye whiskey version of the classic Negroni (which is gin-based), the Old Pal keeps the whiskey but adds subtler dry vermouth in place of a sweet one.

This replacement of dry vermouth completely changes the texture and palate of the cocktail. It’s lighter while still holding onto the brighter elements of a boulevardier.

So why are we picking this as our official fall cocktail? Does it heal the sort of existential angst that we all seem to be drowning in? Not quite. We picked it because, for one, we’re still on an Italian bitters kick from summer. There’s just something about Campari that hits a big note on the palate during the pandemic. Plus, the Old Pal is a cocktail that makes you feel like you’re finally getting the art of cocktail mixing. It’s not overly complex — it’s just a matter of mixing three-equal parts together — but it’s a really big cocktail in the flavor department and sure to be a crowd-pleaser this time of year.

Check our recipe below!

The Old Pal

Ingredients:

• 1.5-oz. Low-rye bourbon
• 1.5-oz. Campari
• 1.5-oz. Dry vermouth
• Lemon peel

The key to the Negroni variation is the dry vermouth. I’m using Noilly Prat. It’s French and arguably one of the best dry vermouths out there. Plus you can actually find it at pretty much every liquor store. It’s also a little earthier than the other vermouths with a grassy underbelly next to the finer points of fortified white wines. The spices and herbal notes are drawn back behind an almost savory veneer that really helps this vermouth shine.

I’m also forgoing the usual rye whiskey that this recipe was developed with. I find a subtler low-rye bourbon more mixable with the other elements. It’ll add the spice while not overpowering the other ingredients. Also, a really good low-rye bourbon, like Wild Turkey, is almost always a better value for price than any rye whiskey.

You’ll need:

• A mixing jug
• A bar spoon
• A cocktail strainer
• Peeler or paring knife
• Ice
• Coupe glass or Nick and Nora glass

Method:

The first step is to chill your coupe. Add a few cubes of ice. By the time you make the drink, the glass will be fully chilled. You can alternatively store your glass in the freezer overnight. But this really takes up a lot of space, especially if you don’t have a big deep-freeze.

Grab a mixing jug — or old jar or pint glass — and add each of the liquids. Top the jug with deeply frozen ice cubes. I generally go with a three-quarter fill with ice.

Stir the drink until the outside of the mixing jug is ice-cold to touch.

Give the ice in your coupe a swirl and then discard, making sure to dump out excess water.

Strain the cocktail into the coupe. The final touch is to spritz the oils from the lemon rind onto the cocktail and then rub the peel around the bowl and stem of the glass.

Serve immediately.

The Bottom Line:

As you can see from the image above, the lemon oils swirling over the cocktail are the x-factor that make this drink shine. It’s wonderfully chilled. There’s a nice botanical note that’s supported by the more vinous and savory Noilly Prat. The low-rye bourbon adds a familiar twinge with a note of rye spice on the end. Had I used the rye instead of low-rye bourbon, that would be more pronounced. But, I’d argue, unnecessary.

This really is a fantastic cocktail to have in your repertoire. It’s light, easy, and a crowd-pleaser that dials back the edgier notes of the Campari bitters with the softness of dry vermouth and warmth of good bourbon. It’s crisp. And the lemon oils really tie it into a satisfying sipper.

You can easily drink a few of these as the leaves and rain fall and the weather gets crisper. The Old Pal will warm you up, expand your palate, and put a smile on your face. God knows we all deserve that right now.