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Earlier this week, Ariana Grande celebrated two years since she released her acclaimed record Sweetener. Now, the singer is celebrating another major milestone. According to Chart Data, Grande has officially surpassed Rihanna as Spotify’s most-streamed female artist of all time. To celebrate the feat, Grande pressed Rihanna for new music.

The singer took to Instagram to thank her fans for the support, but that’s not all Grande said. The singer also urged Rihanna to release her upcoming ninth studio record so that she can once again be the most-streamed artist. “now can rihanna pls drop her album so she can rightfully snatch this back and fill my ears again please or,” she wrote.

Grande is the latest to join in on pressuring Rihanna for new music. Even the singer herself is in on the joke, recently trolling her internet doppelganger about dropping an album. “where the album sis? #R9,” she wrote. Rihanna actually did recently give an update about the status of her impending release. Back in July, the singer revealed in an interview that her upcoming project is going to be worth the wait: “I am always working on music. I am always working on music and when I’m ready to put it out in the way that I feel fit, it’s gonna come out. And you’re not going to be disappointed when it happens. It’s going to be worth it. I’m not just gonna put it out just because people are waiting. It’s taken this long, I’m gonna make it worth it.”

See Grande’s celebratory Instagram post above.

My favorite review (besides our own) of I May Destroy You, Michaela Coel’s incredible series about assault and consent and the danger of eating an entire bag of McDonald’s too quickly, came from Seth Rogen, who tweeted, “I recommend watching I May Destroy You on HBO because holy shit it’s good.” To the point. My second favorite review is: “Michaela Coel’s cheekbones are the only structure this country has rn” (it’s Michaela approved!). And my third favorite comes from musician/actress Janelle Monáe.

In an interview with Variety, Monáe praised “fellow android” Cole for “exploring what it means to be human… Watching Michaela be vulnerable on-screen as she walks in her truth gives me and so many the bravery to walk in ours.” The Grammy-nominated “Pynk” singer, who will soon appear in the time-bending horror film Antebellum, also pointed out that it’s “rare that you see a Black woman writing, directing, and starring in their own TV show centered around the trauma she experienced.” Speaking of that rare distinction…

Coel turned down a $1 million offer from Netflix for I May Destroy You after the streamer refused to give her a percentage of the copyright, and while she says she isn’t “anti-Netflix,” she is “pro-the creator, writer, director, actor should probably have a right.”

The I May Destroy You series finale airs next Monday.

(Via Variety)

Some things were just meant to be enjoyed together. Peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, Mario and Luigi… beer and whiskey? Just go with it. We’re talking about a nice pint of lager followed by a rich, malty, corn-sweet bourbon. That’s a combination we could enjoy every day of the week (if it were socially acceptable and healthy to do so).

But while we’re all about pairing whiskey with beer, we’re also in the business of helping you become a better drinker. If you’re a person who enjoys beer and not whiskey, we want to find a way to get you on board with the distilled spirit. That’s why we asked some of our favorite bartenders to tell us the best whiskeys for beer fans.

In some cases, these are easy whiskeys to pair with beer. In others, they’re finished in beer barrels. Either way, if you’re not sold on the whiskey-beer relationship they’re sure to help you bridge the gap.

Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon

Robert Björn Taylor, bartender and assistant general manager at ARRIVE Hotels and Restaurants in Austin, Texas

Wild Turkey 101 or Buffalo Trace. Why? Because it’s easy to pair with an assortment of beers thanks to proof and taste. Also, if you wanted something for your home bar these are affordable quality whiskeys great as a sipper while drinking a great beer.

Old Grand-Dad Bonded

Meredith Barry, executive beverage chef of Angad Arts Hotel in St. Louis

Old Grand-Dad Bonded. This whiskey might low in price, but it’s high in flavor and pairs so well with beer that it definitely makes sense for fans of lagers and pilsners to stock up on it.

Glenmorangie The Original

Rebecah Hunter, bartender at The Monarch Club in Detroit

Glenmorangie “The Original” Scotch Whisky. The floral notes of this scotch are comparable to the flavors of beer hops. I would venture to say that it is just as refreshing as a tall glass of beer on a summer night. Just pour over a single cube, sip, enjoy.

Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition

Eva Al-Gharaballi, bartender at Datz in St. Petersburg, Florida

Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition is an exciting twist on the flavors of a traditional Irish whiskey. This concoction of Jameson adds light citrus and hops flavor with a smooth mouthfeel after being finished in craft IPA barrels.

George Dickel Rye

Drew Reid, bartender at W Aspen in Aspen, Colorado

I love some good ol’ George Dickel Rye while drinking a beer. A pull of this inexpensive iteration of American rye whiskey with a cold beer is a match made in bonfire-beer-drinking heaven.

Tullamore D.E.W.

Andy Barnett, owner at Barnett & Son Brewing Co. in Parker, Colorado

Tullamore D.E.W. is a great pick for beer fans. Toasted oak and vanilla flavors make it so smooth and approachable.

Glenfiddich IPA Cask

Tommy Ergle, bar manager at Dr. BBQ in St. Petersburg, Florida

I always tell an avid beer drinker that they absolutely have to try the Glenfiddich IPA Cask Finish Whisky. It’s a single-malt Scotch whisky that is finished in IPA casks. This finishing method results in a Scotch whisky that has incredible citrus notes with flavors of oak, green apple, and a finish with fresh hops.

This is an absolute must for someone who loves a good IPA.

Teeling Small Batch

Jeremy Allen, bartender at MiniBar in Los Angeles

Red Breast 12 or Teeling Small Batch. Both are complex Irish whiskies, but they have a familiar and approachable cereal flavor you get in malty beers and lagers. Where bourbon mash is Corn Flakes, these Irish whiskies are more Wheaties. To make whiskey, you make beer first, (and then distill) — these Irish whiskies still really show where they were derived from.

New Holland Beer Barrel Bourbon

Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in Miami

New Holland has their Beer Barrel Bourbon and Rye which both make one hell of a boilermaker. Being aged in Dragon’s Milk barrels and then tasted alongside a beer really helps show the influence this particular method can have on a spirit.

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Mig Feliciano, head bartender and mixologist at Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles

I’ve always gravitated towards Irish whiskeys. I like the bright malty notes and candy pepper of a good Jameson or Tullamore DEW as an accent to my IPA or Pale ale. Also the sweetness of the whiskey pairs well with a cold bitter beer. An odd couple.

A billboard in Louisville, Kentucky’s Irish Hill neighborhood calling for justice for Breonna Taylor has been defaced by vandals. The vandals splashed red paint on the image of Taylor’s face, making it look like a gunshot to the forehead.

No one is sure of the vandals’ intent, but the defaced image of Taylor has turned the billboard into an even more powerful reminder that the officers involved in her murder have yet to face justice.

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via WTKR News 3

Taylor, a Black emergency medical technician, was killed when three officers opened fire on her in her apartment. Only one officer has been fired for the incident.

The plainclothes police were serving a “no-knock” narcotics warrant which took her boyfriend, Kennet Walker, a registered gun owner, by surprise. Assuming that the intruders were attempting to rob them, Walker opened fire and shot one of the officers in the leg.

The police returned fire killing Taylor. No narcotics were found in the apartment.

Walker was cleared of all charges in the incident. Taylor’s murder has led to countless protests over the past five months. But, according to Kentucky officials, the incident is still under investigation.

Last week, Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, met with Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, to discuss the investigation into the killing.

“One hundred and fifty days,” Palmer said at a news conference. “Every day is still March the 13th.”

Palmer was asked what she learned from the attorney general about the probe.

“Just that he wants to have the right answer at the end of this,” Palmer said. “He doesn’t want to rush through it. So for me, I’m trying to accept that and be patient with that. Because I definitely want him to come out with the right answer.”

The defaced billboard was one of 26 placed in Louisville by officials from O, Oprah Winfrey’s magazine, to keep the investigation top-of-mind with the community and pressure officials for justice.

“Demand that the police involved in killing Breonna Taylor be arrested and charged,” the billboard reads.

It also has a quote from Oprah Winfrey: “If you turn a blind eye to racism, you become an accomplice to it.”

Winfrey isn’t the only celebrity keeping Taylor’s death in the public eye while the investigation drags on.

Some of the Los Angeles Lakers donned striking, red MAGA hats as they left the Disneyland Hotel on Tuesday. The hats had the “Great Again” portion Donald Trump’s notorious slogan crossed out and “Arrest the Cops who Killed Breonna Taylor” scrawled in white beneath it.

Lakers star LeBron James explained the meaning behind the hats, telling reporters that Taylor “had a bright future and her life was taken away from her and there’ve been no arrests and no justice, not only for her but for her family. And we want to continue to shed light on that situation, which was unjust. That’s what it’s about.”

Movies. Clothing stores. The big company potluck. Karens have ruined so much for us. The name “Karen” was one of the top 10 names for girls born in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s, peaking as the third most popular girl’s name in 1965. This means that most Karens we know are middle-aged or older — and we can all imagine that wrinkled face and short, highlighted hair. They’ve taken so much from the world — but one hero is trying to give some of that back.

Domino’s Australia has offered to give pizza to anyone named “Karen” who isn’t a “Karen”. The company said in a Facebook post: “CALLING ALL (MASK WEARING, LAW ABIDING) KARENS. It’s a tough time to be a Karen.”

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“Karen the nurse, Karen the teacher, Karen the mum, Karen the neighbour, Karen the mask wearer — we’re all in this together, but a vocal minority who believe rules and laws don’t apply to them have given the name “Karen” a bad rap this year”.

“At Domino’s, we know there’s plenty of Australians named Karen that aren’t, well, “Karens”. Let us know if you’re one of them by completing the form via the link below. We may send some pizza your way!”

The post is full of comments from people named “Karen”, actual “Karens”, and grateful citizens alike, and the Domino’s Australia team has been putting in some serious work with their funny replies (one comment from them says that their pizza is a better cure than therapy for PKSD, or “post Karen stress disorder”). We’ll just have to wait and see (and hope, and pray) if this juicy offer makes any Karens out there tone down the anger. One thing is clear though: they can take our liberty, they can take our manager, but they’ll never take away our pizza.

In June 1945, Europe was reeling from a deadly, devastating world war. Peace had been achieved in the west, but world leaders knew that they had to take immediate action to build a better world and prevent another deadly conflict.

So, delegates from 50 countries gathered in San Francisco and committed to working towards progress by signing the UN Charter. Since that day, there have been tremendous gains: global life expectancy is now 72, global hunger has decreased, and before the pandemic, global extreme poverty was the lowest in recorded history.

The UN has been tackling poverty and world hunger for decades, but how much do you know about their work and impact?

We are at a pivotal moment and it will take global action and effort from everyone in order to recover better. Learn more about how the UN is working towards sustainable development, full equality, and the eradication of poverty and global hunger as part of UN75.

Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion are the faces of “WAP,” but there are usually more people involved behind the scenes. One of those is Evan LaRay Brunson, one of Cardi’s engineers. In a new interview with Grammy.com, he breaks down how the hit song came to be, saying that it actually started in 2019 without much fanfare.

The piece notes, “Before ‘WAP’ satiated a summer thirsting for an anthem, it was an afterthought.” It goes on to say how Brunson remembers Cardi recording the song’s first verse “a year ago” before moving on to something else. However, having more time to review banked material during the pandemic is what got the song finished. Brunson notes, “We had that song since last year. Since COVID-19 happened, we were going over songs, and she was like, ‘I like this.’ She caught the vibe again and laid the second verse down.”

The piece also reports that according to Brunson, Megan first got involved with the track in April or May, after Cardi’s stylist suggested adding Megan to the track. The stylist then got in touch with Megan’s stylist and made the connection that would eventually yield “WAP.”

Brunson also explained his role in Cardi’s creative process, saying, “I’ll just pick her brain about her emotions; what mood she’s in. She’s always in drama, so I try to write things down whenever she says some crazy, spontaneous thing. Then, I’ll go through beats and go, ‘This fit that and fits that.’ Then I’ll start it, send the pack over to her and she’ll immediately listen to the ones I started and go through the whole pack.”

Read the full feature here.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

There’s still apparently plenty of Tiger King juice to be milked in the future, not only by Netflix but by Discovery, which is spinning off a series about Carole Baskins’ missing husband. Nic Cage will also portray Joe Exotic in some sort of scripted series with a network to be determined, and there are rumors that Netflix itself might be growing close to greenlighting a Season 2 of the ridiculously popular docuseries that started it all. And no one seems to be deterred by the saga’s frontman, Joseph Maldonado-Passage, sitting in jail without a pardon (at least so far).

Joe Exotic’s old wildlife zoo (Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park, now run by Jeff Lowe), though, will be shifting gears. As CNN reports, the park’s exhibition license was suspended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the privately-owned area shuttered “immediately” and “for the foreseeable future.” The zoo’s Facebook page confirmed the closure while adding that the area would be used “as a private film set for Tiger King related television content for cable and streaming services.”

However, that’s not the end of the ruckus. According to The Wrap, Lowe is claiming that he is the party who contacted the USDA and decided to “voluntarily forfeit” the exhibitor’s license, and that the license was only suspended after he made that move. The Facebook post in question also claims that Lowe has been “contemplating this for weeks,” and he’s getting his lawyers involved while accusing the USDA of having yielded to pressure from PETA.

In other words, more drama in Tiger King land. Maybe the Minions can really get involved now.

(Via CNN, Deadline & The Wrap)

We’ve got to give it to Nike, they absolutely dominated SNX DLX this week — snagging all five of the top spots in our roundup. This is the second time in SNX DLX history that Nike has accomplished this feat, despite Adidas dropping a brand new Yeezy this week and Reebok unleashing a Question Mid that is definitely worthy of a look.

Sorry to those other brands but Nike truly deserved this win. They had a phenomenal week.

On the apparel end, UNIQLO has dropped a new tech-focused face mask, and Palace and Supreme have started to unload pieces from their Fall 2020 collections. Let’s dive into the best sneaker and apparel drops of mid-August!

Nike Dunk Low Samba

You’re going to have to accept the fact that the chances of you getting lucky and being able to scoop up this pair of Dunks are slim at best. Originally a Nike Japan-exclusive when it dropped in 2001, the Samba is a fan favorite of Dunkheads everywhere and it’s finally getting the global release it deserves this week at 7:00 am PST on Nike SNKRS — which means everyone from hardcore sneakerheads to bots are going to be flooding the app trying to score a pair to flip on the aftermarket.

It’s a shame, but that’s the nature of the modern sneaker world!

The Dunk Low Samba features a leather upper in hyper blue with silver and red overlays, clean white laces, and a large wrap around swoosh. Even 19 years later, it’s still a pretty clean look.

The Nike Dunk Low Samba is set to drop on August 21st for a retail price of $100. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app or atmos.

Air Jordan 3 Laser Orange

A Jordan for Laker fans — and just in time for Kobe Day — this Air Jordan 3 in Laser Orange is a no-brainer pick up unless, you know, you don’t like dope Jordan colorways. Featuring a white tumbled leather upper with laser orange accents on the sockliner, midsole, and tongue, and an elephant print mudguard, Nike just dropped one of the best AJ3 colorways of the year like it wasn’t a big thing.

Moves like this are why Nike won the week.

The Air Jordan 3 Laser Orange is set to drop on August 21st for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app or select Nike retailers.

Atmos x Nike Air Max 950

This week Japanese retailer atmos will drop a Japan-inspired Air Max 950 that takes some design cues from the Air Max 95. Featuring a white upper with a neon undertone and a Japanese flag heel stamp, the Air Max 950 has a small red swoosh at the heel, the Air Max 95’s signature lines across the upper and sits atop a sleek blacked-out midsole.

The Atmos Nike Air Max 950 is set to drop on August 19th for a yet to be announced price. Pick up a pair exclusively at atmos.

Air Jordan 12 Indigo

A beloved SB Dunk colorway, a Kobe-inspired AJ3, a Japanese Air Max 95 inspired 950, AND a new Air Jordan 12 in a luxurious Indigo colorway? Come on Nike, summer isn’t over yet, just what else do you have in store for us?! This AJ12 features an Indigo blue leather upper, matte-finished silver eyelets, and a pristine white mudguard which adds a bit of welcome brightness to the whole thing.

If you’re a Jordan 12 fan, there is no way you don’t love these.

The Air Jordan 12 Indigo is set to drop on August 22nd for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app or select Nike retailers.

Nike Space Hippie 01 Wheat White

We’re big fans of Nike’s new sustainable Space Hippie line of sneakers and from the looks of it, the brand shares that love because fresh colorways of the line’s silhouettes arrive on a regular basis like the drops are on a fixed orbit. This week brings a White Wheat makeup of the Space Hippie 01, which features an earth-toned stitched swoosh and the Space Hippie’s 50% recycled material construction.

Simple but sick.

The Nike Space Hippie 01 in Wheat White is set to drop on August 20th for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair through the Nike SNKRS app.

Supreme Fall/Winter 2020 Collection

The Supreme Fall Winter 2020 collection will begin to drip out this weekend as the brand unleashes the first drop of their extensive jacket, t-shirt, tops, sweats, pants, accessories, bags, and hat offerings. We’ve chosen to put a particular emphasis on the jackets — despite a raging heatwave in California, where I am writing this — as we quickly approach the fall season and temperatures start to drop (everywhere but here).

From box logo hoodies, to puffy pink GORE-TEX down jackets, to sleek MA-1 bomber jackets, to Piet Mondrian inspired fleece sweaters, if you’re going to layer up this season, you can’t go wrong with Supreme.

Supreme’s first drop of its Fall/Winter 2020 collection is set to release on August 20th. Shop the first drop at the Supreme webstore.

Palace Fall 2020 Week 3 Drop

If you’re still feeling the heat of summer and you’re looking for some lighter offerings, Palace is dropping a whole lot of graphic t-shirts in multiple colors, as well as some lighter pullovers and crewnecks in its week 3 drop of the Fall line.

As part of this drop, Palace tried to put a heavy emphasis on denim, dropping a trucker jacket, a pair of straight-leg jeans, and a pair with a graphic print of jeans. Yes, a pair of jeans with a graphic print of jeans. It’s just as ugly as you think it is, but we’ve included it just for laughs.

The Week 3 Palace Fall 2020 drop will be shoppable on the Palace webstore beginning on August 21st.

UNIQLO AIRism Mask

Okay, shockingly basic design aside, UNIQLO’s new AIRism mask is actually pretty damn dope. The mask is composed of three layers and is designed to provide adequate filtration even after multiple washes. In addition, the masks are covered in a moisture-wicking material to keep sweat off your face — which will help prevent breakouts, a new issue anyone who wears masks for hours a day is well acquainted with — and overall boasts a UPF 40 rating, which blocks 90 percent of ultraviolet rays.

UNIQLO claims the masks have self-deodorizing antimicrobial fabrics and come in small, medium, and large face sizes, making it one of the most flexible face masks currently in the game.

Best of all — the mask is $9. While we’d love for some color — any color — with the price point and the tech-forward construction, UNIQLO is setting the standards for what facemasks should do and how much they should cost.

The UNIQLO AIRism Mask is set to drop at all UNIQLO locations stateside beginning on August 24th. Shop the masks at the UNIQLO online store.

With only a few days left until the launch of DC FanDome, the online event is keeping the momentum going with a brand new trailer that promises big reveals from major blockbusters.

Hosted by Aisha Tyler, the latest trailer showcases the actual DC FanDome where virtual panels for DC Comics’ growing slate of TV, film, and video game projects will roll out for fans. One of the biggest highlights is confirmation that The Batman director Matt Reeves will be on-hand with a first-look at the highly-anticipated Batman film starring Robert Pattinson. The new footage also pumps up previously announced appearances from James Gunn to show off The Suicide Squad, The Rock with an update on Black Adam, and The Flash director Andy Muschietti. And, of course, the cast of Wonder Woman 1984 will be on hand as the film prepares to (theatrically) barrel into theaters in October.

In a bit of scheduling news, DC FanDome will now be split into two days after fans voiced concerns with the virtual event’s jam-packed itinerary. Via Entertainment Weekly:

After fielding criticism from fans who felt that the programming offered was too much to handle in one day, DC Fandome will now debut the Hall of Heroes programming on the first day and feature a second on-demand experience three weeks later for another 24 hours of content. Plus, virtual attendees will be able to access the event across all mobile platforms in addition to desktop at DCFanDome.com.

What does that mean? In a nutshell, DC FanDome will go down as scheduled on Saturday, August 22. However, fans will get another chance to relive the event on September 12 where all of the content will be available on-demand. Users can also make their own custom schedule of panels to watch in any order.

However, this move does seem to signal that the virtual panels will not be available on YouTube, so if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse at DC Comics’ upcoming slate, you might want to set aside some time on Saturday, or get ready to wait a few weeks for the on-demand experience.

(Via Warner Bros. Pictures)