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Despite being semi-retired and well on her way to starting a family, it seems Nicki Minaj still has time to help out a friend with a new verse. When ASAP Ferg called to put her on his new single, “Move Ya Hips” featuring MadeInTYO, she definitely picked up the phone and delivered a trademark, no-frills Nicki Minaj verse. While TYO handles the simple, catchy chorus, Ferg and Nicki trade bars, employing a back-and-forth pass-the-mic session on the back end of the song that sounds like the two mind melded in the studio, finishing each others’ sentences.

Ferg’s been highlighting women’s voices in hip-hop a bunch over the past year, releasing and promoting his Floor Seats EP with two different versions of the same song, “Wigs,” with one featuring City Girls and the other hosting Asian Da Brat (fka Asian Doll). Rico Nasty also appeared on the EP’s track “Butt Naked.” Meanwhile, Ferg’s expanded his own features resume as well, sharing “Bezerk” with Big Sean and “Mazel Tov” with IDK. He previously worked with Nicki on Mike Will Made-It’s “Runnin’” and with MadeInTYO on Floor Seats song “Wam.”

Listen to ASAP Ferg’s “Move Ya Hips” featuring Nicki Minaj and MadeInTYO above.

For a studio album by a global pop star, Taylor Swift’s Folklore seems to have come together quickly. She and Aaron Dessner only began working on the record a few months ago, and even a seasoned industry veteran like Dessner was surprised by the speed at which this process happened.

It was surely a fascinating undertaking to behold, and fortunately, Swift and Dessner have offered some behind-the-scenes looks at the album. Now Swift is back with another: She shared a video for the “cabin in candlelight” version of “Cardigan,” and the video is made up of footage from the photoshoot for the Folklore cover art.

This is a limited time thing, though: The song is only available for download and on CD and vinyl until tonight (July 30) at midnight ET.

Ahead of the release of the song’s original video, Swift explained the song’s meaning in a live Q&A, saying, “The song is about a lost romance and why young love is often fixed so permanently within our memories. Why it leaves such an indelible mark.” She further explained in a BBC Radio 1 interview, “This is a song that’s about long lost love, and looking back on it and how special it made you feel, all the good things it made you feel, all the pain that it made you feel.”

Dessner also recently spoke about the song, calling it “a bit of a lightning rod for a lot of the rest of the record”: “It hearkens back to lessons learned, or experiences in your youth, in a really beautiful way and this sense of longing and sadness, but ultimately, it’s cathartic. I thought it was a perfect match for the music, and how her voice feels.”

Watch the new “Cardigan” video above, and read our review of Folklore here.

Folklore is out now via Republic. Get it here.

Last season, Kawhi Leonard delivered on his promise and led the Toronto Raptors to their first championship in team history. Less than a month later, he was headed to Los Angeles to team up with Paul George, thanks to a deal he himself partially orchestrated to help get George out from under his contract with the Thunder. It was an unprecedented move from a superstar who’s just coming into full possession of his powers, both on and off the court.

For the Raptors and their fans, it leaves behind a bittersweet scenario, but if you’ve been around the NBA long enough, you know just how quickly things change and how little room there is for sentimentality. So rather than dwell on the past, the championship squad that, Kawhi notwithstanding, remained largely intact embarked on their title defense this season and, before the pandemic, had surprised just about everyone in the process.

Toronto marches into the Orlando bubble with a firm grip on the No. 2 seed in the East and in full confidence of their collective ability to get the job done when they need to. Whether they possess all the tools to accomplish that goal is a more complicated question.

ROSTER

OG Anunoby
Chris Boucher
Oshae Brissett
Terence Davis
Marc Gasol
Dewan Hernandez
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Serge Ibaka
Stanley Johnson
Kyle Lowry
Patrick McCaw
Malcolm Miller
Norman Powell
Pascal Siakam
Matt Thomas
Fred VanVleet
Paul Watson

SCHEDULE

Saturday, August 1 — 8:30 PM — vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Monday, August 3 — 8:00 PM — vs. Miami Heat
Wednesday, August 5 — 8:00 PM — vs. Orlando Magic
Friday, August 7 — 9:00 PM — vs. Boston Celtics
Sunday, August 9 — 2:00 PM — vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Monday, August 10 — 6:30 PM — vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Wednesday, August 12 — 6:30 PM — vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Friday, August 14 — TBD — vs. Denver Nuggets

STANDINGS

1. Milwaukee Bucks: 53-12
2. Toronto Raptors: 46-18 (6.5)
3. Boston Celtics: 43-21 (9.5)
4. Miami Heat: 41-24 (12.0)
5. Indiana Pacers: 39-26 (14.0)
6. Philadelphia 76ers: 39-26 (14.0)
7. Brooklyn Nets: 30-34 (22.5)
8. Orlando Magic: 30-35 (23.0)
9. Washington Wizards: 24-40 (28.5)

EXPECTATIONS

On the one hand, the fact of Kawhi’s departure has kept the Raptors from losing their edge. They haven’t fallen prey to the apathy or complacency that sometimes afflicts reigning champions, and that’s partly because they still have that chip on their shoulder after almost immediately re-assuming their underdog status. They want to prove that their title win wasn’t an aberration, or a case of good fortune smiling down at the right time just as a dynasty was crumbling all around them or the produce of a one-and-done savior.

Having battled injuries all season prior to the shutdown, the Raptors enter the bubble with a relatively-healthy roster, including a noticeably-slender Marc Gasol, who’d missed a significant chunk with a leg injury. All told, a conference finals appearance is certainly in the cards, depending on how things pan out, and anything is possible from there.

The Raptors have a relatively comfortable three-game advantage for the No. 2 seed, but their regular-season slate is a gauntlet through some serious contenders (see above). They’d much prefer to meet the Nets or Magic in the opening round instead of, say, slipping to third and risking a rematch against a Sixers team that is eager to avenge that Game 7 bounce that sent them reeling.

X-Factor

It’s surprising to get this far in any discussion about the Raptors without mentioning Kyle Lowry, who is the heart and soul of this team — even if Pascal Siakam has emerged as its new shining star. Before the shutdown, Lowry was averaging more than 19 points, seven assists, and four rebounds per game on better than 35 percent shooting from three, impressive numbers for the 34-year-old point guard in his 14th NBA season and enough to earn him a well-deserved sixth All-Star nod.

Prior to a year ago, Lowry had under-performed in the postseason compared to his regular season production, and with his age combined with the absence of Kawhi Leonard to buoy his play and alleviate so much of the pressure, will we see some regression? Or, will the confidence he’s gained from finally winning a title prop him up and prove, once and for all, he’s capable of leading a true contender?

Biggest On Court Question(s)

Will Marc Gasol’s new svelte figure be a help or hindrance in slowing down Giannis the way he did last year in a hypothetical East Finals rematch? Can Pascal Siakam prove that he has yet another leap in him and fully embody his role as a Kawhi-light replacement in a deep postseason run? Can they maintain that second-best defense in the NBA when things tip back off in Orlando? Can they all stay healthy for the next couple months? Toronto has plenty of questions, but it must be noted that so far this season they’ve had all the right answers.

Luca is the first name of the director of Call Me By Your Name, about an unforgettable summer for a boy in a small Italian town. Luca is also the title of Pixar’s just-announced new movie, about an unforgettable summer for a boy in a small Italian town.

Only one movie has a peach, though (probably?).

Directed by Enrico Casarosa, Luna is a “coming-of-age story about a young boy in Italy, who shares in adventures on the Italian Riviera with his newfound best friend. But a dark secret about his true identity seeks to threaten that bond,” according to Variety. Casarosa called it a “deeply personal story for me, not only because it’s set on the Italian Riviera where I grew up, but because at the core of this film is a celebration of friendship.” The kind of friendship that blossoms on the dance floor to a Psychedelic Furs song, and also sea monsters? Only time will tell, but people are already making the connection between Pixar’s Luca and Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name.

In all seriousness, if this does turn out to be Pixar’s first LGBTQ film, that would be very cool! Even better if Sufjan Stevens does the soundtrack. Sorry, Randy Newman.

Luca is scheduled to come out on June 18, 2021, following Soul (November 20).

(Via Variety)

Rihanna is fresh off the launch of a new Fenty skincare line, so that’s one more thing she can take off her to-do list. Naturally, her fans are still eagerly awaiting a new album from Rihanna, and she spoke about her music in an ET interview.

Towards the end of the conversation, she was asked if she has been working on music during the pandemic. She said, as she has before, that she is always working on music, and that her album will be out when she’s ready:

“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.”

She noted elsewhere in the interview that she has “been more busy in quarantine than ever before,” although that comment came in context of her talking about her Fenty endeavors, so it may not reflect how much time she has spent in the studio over the past few months.

Rihanna also looked back on the 15-year anniversary of “Pon de Replay” and the 10-year anniversary of “Love The Way You Lie.” She said her first thoughts about those occasions is that she can’t believe they happened so long ago, saying, “I’m 10 years older, I’m 15 years older. I thought that was just a few years ago, now it’s like a decade-plus. That is what I think about! But I’m also really grateful to still be here and being able to expand into other ventures. I’m grateful. It’s been fun and I can’t even complain.”

Check out the full interview here.

Anthony Mackie, who entered the MCU as Sam Wilson/Falcon in 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, has appeared in seven Marvel movies. Sam even became the new Captain America when Steve Rogers passed the shield in Avengers: Endgame, so he’s certainly got the platform to speak out on Hollywood’s shortcomings in the diversity realm. He recently told Variety that it was “more racist” for Black Panther to be the only MCU film with a predominantly Black crew.

His sentiments were along the lines of pushing studios to do better, and to hire Black crew members/directors/producers/stunt choreographers for other movies as well, because he noticed that almost all of Marvel movie hires that he’s witnessed are white. While speaking in a new interview with Fatherly, he actor says that he’s not actually calling Marvel Studios or Disney racist, but he does feel like studios are “unaware”:

“I don’t think what’s happening is a racism problem. I think it’s an unawareness problem. With Marvel, I really think with most companies, they feel like they’re doing what they should be doing. In no way, shape, or form, is it enough. My big thing is, put your money where your mouth is.”

Mackie then pointed out that “[y]ou can’t cast a Black dude as one of your main superheroes” (I assume he’s referring to Falcon becoming Captain America) “and not expect him to have that conversation.” He believes that he can’t pass up the opportunity to raise the issue and further the conversation until more changes take place, as well as helping the MCU become a better place overall. And it’s certainly fair for Mackie to not want Black Panther to be the “only” exception in the MCU.

At some point in 2020, The Hurt Locker actor will also appear in buddy-comedy form alongside Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes/Winter Solder in Disney+’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

(Via Fatherly)

The hip-hop world faced the tragic news of Malik B’s death yesterday. The rapper was an early member of The Roots, and shortly after his passing, Black Thought shared a touching tribute to Malik.

A few hours later, Questlove decided to honor the late rapper in a different way. Instead of an overall tribute to his life, Questlove shared just a slice of it: he told a story about how he knew Malik before they made music together. As he put it, “Even before Malik was in The Roots, he was my oil guru.”

It’s a tale best told by Questlove himself, so read his post below.

“A lighter tale of Malik Abdul Basit

As a true Bol from philly you know that one’s oil game HAD to be on point. I came in this game rockin oils since age 9. Most of yall joke about me smelling like Breakfast (thx Kravitz clan) but long before my vanilla combo mastery my true graduation from basic Frankincense & Myrrh morphed into new exotic philly jawns like ‘Mecca Musk’ & ‘Somali Rose’ & ‘Egyptian Musk’ & yeah…..’Money On the Street’ & ‘Hug My Neck Aphrodisiac’

Malik introduced me to that world.

Even before Malik was in the Roots —he was my oil guru.

IYKYK…there is no panic like the last drop of oil w no re-up in the future.

I been bugging Malik for my ‘$OTS’ re-up. Paged him 911 (ask your parents kids) he was hard to catch but I knew I had some leverage bait this time: these were my last days interning at #RuffhouseRecords. I was everyone’s plug for all free cd’s/lp’s & especially Kriss Kross posters for anyone’s younger sibling or cousin

Tim Dog’s sophomore Do or Die just came out (his ‘I Get Wrecked’ single w KRS made brief noise for a sec) & I had 6 songs from the not yet released Cypress Hill ‘Black Sunday’ lp—-that was just enough to garner a ‘word? BET!’ confirmation from Malik to tell me that him & Mussa (remember the cat dozing off watching TV in our ‘Distorion’ vid? Him) would scoop me in a half hour. Confused I thought it was gonna be an even exchange (having paid him upfront weeks ago at a show I thought he was gonna drop it off—-ha ha ha yeah ok

They arrive to my west philly house and then Malik breaks the news to me: we gotta take a trip to ‘Norf’ to get the oils. I wasn’t planning on this. But oh well.

It was 3pm.

Malik told me the particular fragrance I dug was a mixture of 3 import oils from Saudi Arabia (his parents often taught school there) my dad was already on his cynic ‘fool me once….’ bag with Malik from a previous sale: ‘that boy tried to hustle me with Blue Nile that wasn’t all the way Blue, I know Johnson’s baby oil rebranded when I smell it’)—-Malik told me we’d have to run to grab 2 oils & then West Oak Lane for the other oil, & then to South Philly so he can mix em together.

Uh (checks Swatch) ok.”

It’s been a while since we’ve checked in on Martha Stewart. What’s she up to?

Oh my.

All the Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party host wanted to do was talk about her mostly chlorine-free East Hampton pool (“I made it extra deep for diving and with no protruding steps so we could really race the length without worrying about obstacles. After all these years, It is a fun place to swim!!!”). Instead, she learned about thirst traps, a term she was blissfully unfamiliar with until ET‘s Nischelle Turner informed her on the definition. In that case, Stewart said, “that’s definitely a thirst trap”:

This one came about because Stewart “thought I looked great coming out of the pool. My camera came on backwards, selfie mode, and I looked so nice. The sun was on my face. I thought, ‘Oh, that looks pretty,’ so I took the picture. It looked good.”

The internet agrees: since posting the pool selfie, Stewart has been proposed to 14 times, “I don’t know what for, but they’re proposals,” she told E! Online. “I haven’t checked lately, that was the first day.” The photo was also replicated by comedian Chelsea Handler, who wrote, “I’m here to take @marthastewart48’s swimming lesson. If I look this good at 78 I better still have a pool to show myself off in.”

The key to looking youthful at 78: drunk hoverboarding, obviously.

(Via BuzzFeed)

When hip-hop fans make lists of the best rappers ever, Eminem usually finds his way near the top. However, Snoop Dogg doesn’t think the Detroit rapper is one of the ten best to ever do it.

During a recent Breakfast Club interview, Snoop explained his position, saying:

“Eminem! The Great White Hope! White rappers had zero respect in rap. Let’s keep that one thou wow. [Dr. Dre] has probably put Eminem in the position where he could be labeled as one of the top ten rappers ever. I don’t think so, but the game thinks that he’s top ten lyricists and all that that comes with it. That’s just because he’s with Dr. Dre and Dr. Dre helped him find the best Eminem that he could find.”

He was then asked why Em didn’t make the cut, and he responded, “There’s just some n****s in the ’80s that he can’t f*ck with. Like Rakim, like Big Daddy Kane, like KRS-One, like LL Cool J… shall I go on? Like Ice Cube.”

As that conversation indicated, Eminem is widely esteemed and considered one of the best rappers ever. Naturally, then, there were plenty of hip-hop fans on Twitter who had thoughts about Snoop keeping Eminem out of his top list.

Some people didn’t agree with Snoop:

Some fans think, however, that even Eminem himself would side with Snoop:

One fan argues that Snoop received the same career perks from which Snoop claimed Eminem benefited:

Another person suspects Snoop may have left Eminem off his list after he didn’t make Eminem’s recent list:

Then there are those who think this whole thing is a bit silly:

Whatever the case may be, both rappers are staying busy: Snoop is fresh off a Verzuz battle and Eminem just released a collaborative single with Kid Cudi.

With the pandemic raging in many corners of the U.S. and full-on lockdowns on the verge of returning, it’s pretty safe to say no one is going to have a “normal” August. Even when talking about camping, we have to be very careful with how we go out and enjoy nature. Your safety is not yours alone. We need to pull together to ensure the safety of one another.

In the practical sense, that means no indoor dining, wear a freaking mask, no parties/ concerts/ public gatherings, and no flights unless your need to travel supersedes the risk (if you have to ask, it probably doesn’t). But you can still have whiskey and you can still get outside. See? It’s not all bad!

If you choose to go camping this summer, find a spot far away from other campers (BLM land!), shop and fuel up beforehand, bring hand sanitizer, pack extra masks, and don’t forget the whiskey. Drink it straight, on the rocks, or in your go-to cocktail, and let it help you forget about how long it took you to put the tent up.

To find the perfect whiskey for your “no contact” summer trip, we asked some of our bartender pals for their favorite tentside bottles.

High West Campfire

John Marchetti, bartender at Dr. BBQ in St. Petersburg, Florida

High West Campfire truly is the world’s only blend of bourbon, rye, and scotch. Best sipped with a splash or two of water, this complex, blended whiskey is best enjoyed with old friends. I don’t know where to start on the notes because there are so many. Think vanilla, honey, toffee, chai spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, and orange zest.

This blended whiskey finishes long, sweet, spicy, and — best of all — smoky.

Blackened Whiskey

Karl Steuck, bartender at Spirit & Spoon in Los Angeles

I’ve really been digging on Blackened Whiskey. It’s a rad blend of bourbons and ryes, hand-selected by the late and great acclaimed Dave Pickerell. Predominantly bourbon, the sweetness of the juice works perfectly with the rye’s savory spice. Definite notes of honey, cinnamon, and allspice all combine with an unexpected smooth apricot note lingering underneath.

Blackened is an unexpected-yet-ultimately-crowd-pleasing dram, appealing to many discerning palates — especially in the summer around a campfire. In my opinion, it’s perfect as a neat sipper, on the rocks, in an old fashioned, mixed with soda water, or in a mule.

Lagavulin 12

Nazar Hrab, beverage director at The Pineapple Club in New York City

Camping deserves something smokey — definitely a peaty Scotch. I would say Lagavulin 12. Drinking smoky spirits like this next to the campfire is absolutely magical.

Joseph Magnus’ Murray Hill Club

Melissa Reigle, beverage manager and head bartender at Byblos in Miami

Camping is for stories and bourbon is for long, winding stories. And if you want a long rich bourbon with a phenomenal story, Joseph Magnus’ Murray Hill Club is for you. Almost a century after prohibition, the Magnus family found a single bottle of Murray Hill. They approached Nancy Fraley — a professional whiskey “noser” — and she was so impressed that she helped the family replicate the recipe.

These days, the family has a rich cache of memorabilia and stories, as well as an award-winning bourbon.

Pinhook Rye’d On

Steve Livigni, food and beverage partner at Hotel June in Los Angeles

I really like the whiskeys this brand is putting out. The newest release ‘Rye’d On’ is delicious, very flavorful at 97 proof, but not palate charring. The packaging is great too.

Bulleit Rye

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

The smokiness of a campfire on a camping trip and the spiciness of this rye mash come together for a full sensory experience.

Uncle Nearest 1884

Jorge Centeno, chief spirits officer at the Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest, Illinois

Uncle Nearest 1884 is the perfect camping companion. It’s full-bodied with notes of oak, a clean finish, and it goes well with s’mores.

Bulleit Bourbon

Frantjasko Laonora, head mixologist at Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort in Curaçao

Smoke with smoke doesn’t go too well together. My feeling is that you want something that is lighter on the palate. This sip starts you off with smooth tones of maple, oak, and nutmeg then finishes off with a light toffee flavor — making it perfect to sip around a bonfire.

WRITER’S PICKS:

Baker’s Bourbon

One of Jim Beam’s small batch collection, Baker’s is aged for seven years and sits at a potent 107 proof. It’s full of rich vanilla, sweet honey, and subtle spice, making it a breeze for summer sipping after a long day of hiking.

Laphroaig 10

After an afternoon spent swimming in a lake, you’re probably going to want to relax in a comfortable chair while you warm yourself on a campfire. A smoky fire deserves an equally smoky whisky. Laphroaig 10 is the perfect juice for the job because it’s full of robust peat smoke, sweet caramel, and subtle ocean brine.