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One of the underrated aspects of 2020, overshadowed by the pandemic, apocalyptic fires, and militias murdering people in the streets, is the gradual mainstreaming of the idea that virtually all of Donald Trump’s enemies are pedophiles. The TrueAnon podcast has been doing some excellent work on these theories, and specifically on the proliferation of “Save the Children” rallies and their dubious origins. Others have noted the theory taking root amongst Mommy bloggers and influencers. Meanwhile, the AP reported today that VP Mike Pence will attend a fundraiser hosted by QAnon believers, as will RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel — showing the extent to which the mainstream Republican party has embraced these ideas.

While believing in the existence of a ring of elite pedophiles doesn’t seem all that crazy in the wake of Jeffrey Epstein (who clearly enjoyed some high-level protection and special treatment), the kind of mental gymnastics required to believe that Epstein’s old acquaintance, Donald Trump, is somehow the guy who’s going to protect us from it all are hard to fathom. This is the same guy who once described Epstein on the record as “a terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”

Yes, that was in 2002, but it was 2020 when Trump said “I wish her well” of Epstein’s fixer/girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell on camera. But yeah, sure, the born-rich Casino owner/pageant magnate is definitely our best defense against pedophiles.

On that note, Once Upon A Time In The Valley, a wonderful new podcast about 1980s underage porn star Traci Lords, recently made some interesting connections in a discussion of porn, celebrity, the sex tape as a path to stardom. They referenced a 2019 Vanessa Grigoriadis profile of Ivanka Trump from The Cut, which noted, according to Ivanka’s friends, Trump’s obsession with Paris Hilton’s sex tape stardom.

In 2003, when Paris Hilton’s sex tape was leaked on the internet, Donald wouldn’t stop talking about it, saying, “Paris is laughing all the way to the bank, she’s got the last laugh, she’s marvelous.” Ivanka could not believe her father was not only idolizing an airhead heiress caught blowing a guy on a night-vision video but encouraging her to follow Paris’s lead. (Speaking from the White House, [White House press secretary from June-April Stephanie] Grisham says, “This is untrue and is disgusting.”)

In fairness, it’s a fairly gossipy article, sourced mainly to named and unnamed “friends” of Ivanka’s, and it’s slightly hard to tell from the way it’s written whether Trump encouraging Ivanka to follow Paris Hilton’s lead extended specifically to making a sex tape. My guess is he probably said it at some point and probably wasn’t entirely serious, if he ever is, rambling and riffing and forgetting most of it 15 seconds later like an overconfident goldfish.

Despite the abundance of rape and sexual assault allegations against Trump, I’m not convinced Donald Trump is an actual pedophile. Still, he seems like a pretty weird guy to turn into the secret savior of the global anti-pedophilia movement. It’d be like trying to position Steven Seagal as the world’s foremost opponent of hoagies. Somehow Tom Hanks is a part of a pedophile ring but the model for Biff in Back to the Future 2 is our savior? Okay, sure man whatever.

Much of Anjimile’s debut album Giver/Taker is about variations of loss, written during a time of personal rehabilitation and reprioritization. Interestingly, the album never gets weighed down by the seriousness of its lyrics, with many of the songs instead taking on a more danceable vibe featuring hip-hop beats and funky bass lines. Anjimile’s songwriting process is very freewheeling, with most of the melodies popping into their head on a whim that forces them to pick up their phone and record a voice memo to reference later.

After receiving the Live Arts Boston Grant to fund the recording of Giver/Taker, Anjimile and their collaborators spent a few days at a time over the course of eleven months crafting and re-working the effort. The fragmented recording process allowed them the space and reflection to decide what each song really did and didn’t need, and to focus in on creating a product of which they could all be proud.

The result is an album that sounds quite unlike anything else in recent memory, channeling elements of Sufjan Stevens and more into something unique and truly special. Ahead of the new album, I chatted with Anjimile on Instagram Live to talk about the songwriting process, our mutual lack of knowledge of musical theory, and Elizabeth Holmes, as part of our Fall Music Preview. Check out the full interview below.

Giver/Taker is out September 18 on Father/Daughter Records. Pre-order it here.

Travis Scott’s partnership with McDonalds is confusing elderly employees and exciting fans, leading massive hoards of Gen-Z fans to show up to the fast food restaurant to buy his branded Happy Meal. But 50 Cent has decided to one-up the rapper. 50 and entrepreneur Jay Manzini were feeling generous this week and decided to give back to the rapper’s Queens, New York hometown. The two pulled up to a Burger King on the Southside of Queens on Thursday and surprised employees with stacks of cash.

50 and Manzini rolled through a drive-up Burger King window and urged and employee to call over all of her coworkers. “I’m just trying to pull up and show love to you guys. I know you guys work hard,” Manzini said. He then began pulling cash out of his pocket totaling $30,000, but that’s not all. 50 then came around the corner and employees were beside themselves.

“Me & @50cent had to shut Burger King down in Southside Queens. Passed over 30k me and @50cent to these hard workers, during this pandemic,” Manzini wrote on Instagram. “Fif told me I really like what you’re doing, I told him it’s good karma at the end of the day big bro!!! Change lives & connect with real ones.. Southside Queens stand up!! Ya deserve it.”

50 also shared the clip to Instagram, writing: “@jaymazini is the real deal,he saw me in the hood yesterday so we went tonight and showed everybody some love.”

Watch 50 Cent and Jay Manzini hand out $30,000 to fast food employees above.

Michael Porter Jr. ruffled some feathers on Wednesday evening following Denver’s 96-85 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference Semifinals. The Nuggets’ offense was, as you can tell by the final score, not good, and as a result, the team is facing its second-consecutive 3-1 series deficit this postseason. Unlike last round, the Clippers are a much taller mountain to scale than the Utah Jazz, and it’s hard to see a path that involves Denver winning three in a row.

Porter, out of an apparent sense of frustration with how things went on Wednesday, called out head coach Michael Malone’s play calling in his postgame press conference. He took two shots in the second half after scoring 15 points in the first, and told the media that it wasn’t because of anything L.A. was doing.

Malone, when asked, disagreed with this assessment.

Anyone publicly going after a coach like this is eyebrow-raising, particularly when it’s a young player whose gripe seems to be “the offense was too centered around Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.” His frustration is understandable, but there are plenty of ways to handle said frustration that is not this.

In the aftermath, plenty of individuals opined on how Porter aired this dirty laundry. One such person was Damian Lillard, who was not a fan of Porter’s tactics.

Lillard is no stranger to commenting on what he sees in the world of basketball, and while there could have been some ambiguity about what he did not like here — perhaps he agreed with Porter and was shaking his damn head at the Nuggets’ coaching staff — he clarified in his following tweets that he believed the youngster was in the wrong here.

Porter said that he’s going to speak with his coaches about all of this, so it’ll be worth keeping an eye on what his role is during a must-win Game 5 on Friday. Regardless, it’s not hard to guess what Lillard hopes they tell him as they discuss how he’ll be used for the remainder of this playoff run.

Britney Spears is in the midst of a legal battle over her conservatorship, a situation that seems to be evolving every day. Now, one of Spears’ old friends, Paris Hilton, has weighed in on the saga, and like other Spears supporters, she is disappointed by the situation.

Chatting with Andy Cohen on Andy Cohen Live, Hilton said, “I saw her this summer. We had dinners, saw her in Malibu. I love her so much and I feel if you’re an adult, you should be able to live your life and not be controlled. I think maybe that stems from me being controlled so much, so I can understand how that would feel, and I can’t imagine right now if that was still happening to me. After just working her whole life and working so hard… she’s this icon and I just feel like she has no control of her life whatsoever, and I just don’t think that’s fair.

Cohen then asked if she and Spears have discussed the situation, to which Hilton responded, “No, I don’t like bringing things up like that. She’s so sweet and so innocent and such a nice girl. We just talk about happy things: music, fashion… I don’t know, just fun things. I never like to bring up negative things or make people feel uncomfortable, so I’ve never talked about it with her.”

Watch the video above.

Travis Scott’s McDonald’s collaboration is causing fan frenzies and bringing his supporters out in droves to acquire the otherwise mundane meal, but it looks like not everyone is excited about Cactus Jack’s crossover with the food giant. According to a profile of the collaboration in GQ, some McDonald’s employees had to have the entire concept explained to them after wondering, “What’s a Travis Scott?”

Naturally, these were older employees, likely the ones way outside the target demographic for the promotion, which is the chain’s way of jumpstarting sales after a slow first quarter blamed mainly on the pandemic. The manager at a Utah location said, “We have a few older [crew members] with us and they say, ‘What is a Travis Scott?’ And we try to explain, he’s a rapper, blah blah blah.” She was introduced to the Houston rapper’s music through her young son and has since been fielding calls about the promotion, which she says both customers and employees “are really excited about.”

Such is the feeding frenzy for the rapper’s merch with McDonald’s that one woman even offered to buy an employee’s shirt “for her son.” Stores were sent a special uniform to wear for the duration of the promotion, which lasts until October, but some stores still reportedly hadn’t received their merchandise by GQ‘s press time. And yes, those memes you’ve seen on Twitter seem to be pretty accurate. An Orange County manager reported that an unusually busy Tuesday was populated mainly by young kids, teens, and early-20-somethings, all scrambling to get their hands on a menu item, that would normally require like three extra button presses at the interactive kiosk. It doesn’t even come with a toy!

It is, indeed, lit.

Check out Travis’ co-branded McDonald’s merchandise here.

The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow, and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.

After years of songwriting for some of the industry’s most popular names including Kendrick Lamar, DJ Khaled, and YG, Los Angeles native Blxst looks to take off with his career, one he begins with his debut EP, No Love Lost. The project combines the most ear-pleasing qualities of both R&B and hip-hop, both being genres that he weaves in and out of with ease and impressive finesse. The campaign for No Love Lost dates back to 2019 with his breakout single, “Hurt,” a track that finds him bearing the pain and disappointment of being done wrong by a close friend with a look of undeterred nonchalance. “I can’t sit around waiting on n****s,” he says. “That just ain’t what a hustler do.” The pain cuts deep but his pride is strong enough to handle the grimacing burn that results from the disloyal action.

No Love Lost seeks loyalty, not love, from a ride or die confidant to provide a remedy to the stresses of life’s dangers. It’s a message he makes clear on “Overrated,” as he falls in line with what 21 Savage said on his I Am > I Was highlight track, “Ball w/o You.” “You can love somebody just by being attached / See loyalty is a action / You can love or hate me and still have my back.” Blxst has no interest in having someone who has his heart, rather, he desires someone who has his back and will always be present in his time of need, something the Donell Jones-sampling track highlights. “You know we good, no reason to be explainin,’” he sings. “Just want your loyalty, the love is overrated.” Love as we know it requires too much for Blxst’s liking, from lowering his guard to keeping another person in mind with every move. Loyalty however is a bare minimum commitment and that, to Blxst at least, is enough love for him.

Blxst’s comfort when loyalty leads the way in his relationships is crystal clear. “Wrong Or Right,” one of the many bright spots on No Love Lost, praises his love interest for their unconditional support despite his constant absence while he builds an empire for two. “You be thuggin’ through the lonely nights,” he says. “Always knew you was the soldier type.” Yet, despite this moment of praise, Blxst also seeks confirmation that their tenure as his unconditional confidant will not come to an end in the near future. “You ain’t never folding, right?” he questions. “Even if I’m wrong or right.” However, this bright moment proves to be nothing more than a honeymoon phase that quickly comes to an end.

While the hustle continues for Blxst, the lonely nights also add up for his love interest on “Be Alone.” A once-thrilling ride has been reduced to a boring routine, one that has far lost its appeal and adrenaline-fueled satisfaction. Soon, complaints about his presence (“You be trippin’ on the time we don’t spend”) and fears that come with his occupation (“You be paranoid hearing sirens again”) rain on him. These complaints and fears confuse Blxst as he believed the relationship’s roles were well-defined. “I thought you wanted a hustler, girl, it come with that,” he sings before adding on the chorus, “You signed up, said you’d ride to the end.” Blxst condemns the feelings of his love interest despite being completely worthy of some condemnation of his own as he fails to realize that his perception of love, which emphasizes loyalty above all else, is not common practice to most individuals.

As the EP concludes, passing through “Just Say’n” and “Searching,” Blxst once again ends up as a lone ranger left to wander the streets in hopes of finding a new partner who fits his lifestyle. His perils with love come from approaching it like a written contract, listing the terms that come with being with him while leaving no room for compromise or adjustments down the road. Compromise is a foundational aspect of love, but the unpredictability that comes with its presence is something Blxst can’t cater to as it interferes with his hustler’s ambition and tunnel-visioned focus to make it out of his current situation. While it may be tolerable in the beginning, its inconvenience and the sacrifice it requires from his partner become unbearable in the end.

The phrase “no love lost” signals the continued presence of love despite the end of a relationship, but Blxst himself admits loyalty replaces love in his romantic endeavors and when they fail to last, he seemingly comes out unscathed with love since what was never given can’t be lost. However, the point Blxst seems to make on this project is despite failing to land upon his ideal ride or die confidant, Blxst escapes the mess without having to lower his guard and give away love. Because of this, he may never experience the true beauty of love, but Blxst finds resolve in knowing he’ll also never have to experience its pains. All in all, No Love Lost emphasizes the flaws of a man whose only goal is to be a flawless hustler.

No Love Lost is out now via Red Bull and Evgle. Get it here.

Kanye West goes through runs of increased activity on Twitter, and he’s been fairly consistent lately. A recurring theme of his recent posts is that they shout out others. This month, he has praised Joe Biden, David Blaine, Big Sean, and Travis Scott. His latest Twitter activity is focused on Drake, with whom he has a contentious history.

Last night, Kanye re-tweeted a video shared by XXL, of a young Drake rapping along to the Fugees song “Ready Or Not.” In the brief clip, Drake raps part of Wyclef Jean’s first verse: “Jail bars ain’t golden gates. Those who fake, they break / When they meet their 400-pound mate / If I could rule the world…”

It’s not clear what Kanye’s motivation was for sharing the video, as it was simply a re-tweet with no comment added. Given the positive disposition Kanye has seemed to have had lately, though, it’s possible he just enjoyed the video and wanted to re-share it.

That said, Drake may have rekindled the flames of his feud with Kanye recently. On his single “Laugh Now Cry Later,” there are lyrics that may be targeted at Kanye, as some believe the track features lines referencing Kanye’s Gap partnership and Kim Kardashian.

The Milwaukee Bucks are on the verge of the biggest offseason in franchise history. The team is going to put a supermax contract in front of Giannis Antetokounmpo the second they’re allowed to do so, and though he’s made clear he doesn’t plan on requesting a trade under any circumstance, it’s unclear if he would put pen to paper on that deal.

There is still a ton that the Bucks would need to do beyond that, as is the case for any team with title aspirations that lost in five games in the conference semifinals. One potential course of action is to hit the trade market, and according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, this might mean needing the part ways with backcourt stalwart Eric Bledsoe.

Rival executives expect the Bucks to prioritize acquiring a playmaker and more shooting in the offseason to retool the roster around Antetokounmpo. Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe is under contract for multiple seasons and had another standout season by earning All-Defensive team honors, but he is expected to become a potential trade candidate, sources told The Athletic.

Bledsoe has been in Milwaukee since 2017. One of the best defensive guards in the league, Bledsoe has established a less-than-stellar reputation for struggling when the Bucks make it to the postseason — this year, he averaged 11.7 points and 5.9 assists in 29.7 minutes per game in the playoffs while connecting on 38.8 percent of his field goal attempts. What he does defensively is a big reason why Milwaukee has won a bunch of games last year, but his limitations on the other end of the floor (particularly as a shooter) make him an imperfect fit next to Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks have been mentioned as a team that might try to make a move for Chris Paul, which would seemingly require moving on from Bledsoe to make room. But even if that does not come to fruition, it would make sense that someone would want to bring Bledsoe on board, as he is a pretty good player. What Milwaukee would be able to get in return, of course, remains to be seen.

Despite rapping mostly about the tactile qualities of various parts of her anatomy (for good reason, by the way) Cardi B has become a favored target of the conservative, right-wing establishment. Pundits and shills from across the political spectrum all seem to recognize that Cardi’s popularity comes with a massive platform and she isn’t afraid to wield her influence. While that means courting her favor for Democratic Presidential hopefuls like Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, for the other side of aisle, she’s an enemy that needs to be critiqued to no end.

All that vitriol has had real-life consequences, though. Cardi revealed during a recent Instagram Live with fans that someone even leaked her address online. However, just like with the trolls that attack her online, Cardi was ready with a solution. “Sh*t gets so intense that a Trump supporter posted my address and encouraged people to dox my home, to put my house on fire,” she admitted. However, “I literally hired a private investigator, and served them with a warrant and arrested this boy.” As it turned out, “This boy was a f*cking teenager. His parents were shook.”

It seems that Cardi’s critics have an undue amount of influence as well, but while Cardi is encouraging her fans to vote and decrying anti-Asian xenophobia, they are turning theirs into the sort of people that lash out in the hopes of inciting violence. All told, a message of empowerment and good sexual health seems a lot more positive than that.

Story via The Independent.

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