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Streetwear 2020: All The Brands That Have Entered The Designer Face Mask Game

It’s time to accept the fact that the face mask is here to stay. Long a streetwear staple in the fashion centers of Tokyo and Seoul, as well as dusty desert raves, face masks just might be as essential to your fit as a fly pair of kicks right now. Aside from the CDC’s recommendation for all Americans to wear cloth face-coverings in public life during the COVID-19 pandemic, some states have strict measures in place requiring the use of a face mask to enter the market or pick up food from an eatery. And while it’s clear that we aren’t going to be required to stay home forever, COVID-19 isn’t exactly going away once quarantine ends.

As such, wearing face masks in large public gatherings and retail spaces will probably be the norm going forward until a vaccine is commercially available, unlikely until at least February of 2021. If you’ve already been making a habit of rocking a face mask, you’ll probably aware that it’s hard to make them look good. Learning how to fashion a makeshift mask out of a bandana from a viral TikTok was all well and good that first week of quarantine, but now that the face mask is an essential part of our wardrobes it’s time to put some thought and effort into how you clothe your face.

We’re just going to say it — No, you’re not crazy for wanting your face mask to match your bomber jacket. Yes, it would be dope if your socks played off your mask. You could choose to look at the face mask as a hindrance to your look, or as another accessory to help pull your whole outfit together. It’s really up to you and whether you’re down to make some lemonade from these lemons we all got handed.

To help you stay looking as fresh as possible in the era of the face mask, we’ve collected a list of all the hottest labels making masks right now. If this whole scene isn’t for you, there are a million other ways to make a mask — just promise to wear one when out and about. We’re in this together.

Anti Social Social Club

Is there a more fitting brand for the age of social distancing than the Anti Social Social Club? The streetwear label’s take on the face mask keeps things simple with a logo print over your choice of white, black, or pink.

Some iterations swap out the bold italic font for a wavy version of the logo, and both are readily available on Grailed.

Artifact

Pre-COVID-19 Artifact specialized in hand-making premium bags, aprons, and other accessories with a sort of rustic and earthy charm. Now the brand is adapting to the times and adding face masks to their arsenal of hand made products. In your choice of seven earth-toned colorways, each face mask out of Artifact features an internal wire piece for a snug nose adjustment, a built-in pocket for a removable MERV-14 mesh filter, and face ties that allow you to adjust your fit for ultimate comfort.

To shop the 100% cotton twill masks, head to the Artifactbags webstore.

BAPE

BAPE has been in the fashionable face mask game for a while, and while they aren’t offering anything currently, there is a near-endless supply of BAPE face masks to be found across StockX and Grailed. From simple single cloth face masks to more heavy-duty reinforced masks that make you look straight out of Mortal Kombat, BAPE has all your camo or shark-faced patterned face mask needs completely covered. Conspicuously, we haven’t spotted a face mask that sports Baby Milo, which needs to be remedied immediately.

Hit up Grailed or StockX to pick up a BAPE face mask from the aftermarket.

Ball and Buck

Ball and Buck are bringing their outdoorsy aesthetic to the face mask game with their simple cotton camo masks. The brand will match each mask sale by donating a mask to a hospital in need. While Ball and Buck’s mask are not medical grade — none of the masks on this list are, nor do they necessarily need to be — the brand points out that they are suitable for all manner of activities, like sanding, sawing, or as a shield to prolong the usability of a medical-grade mask,

Hit up Ball and Buck’s online store to pick up a mask now.

Daniel Patrick

Featuring two elastic bands on each side, Daniel Patrick’s 100% polyester masks are water-resistant and come in fourteen different unique colorways and patterns that allow for a more personalized choice. The design features a slight slope near the nose for a sleek design that contours the face in a one-size-fits-most look.

Hit the Daniel Patrick webstore to shop the masks.

Equihua

Equihua is currently hand sewing face masks using Virgen de Guadalupe scarf fabric sourced in Merida, Yucatan, and delivering one of the most vibrant and fashionable masks out there. Featuring polyester on the outer fabric and cotton on the inner, each fest mask features an inner pocket that accommodates HEPA-style filters.

The masks are currently sold out — as each is being hand-sewn by a small team — so follow Equihua on Instagram to be alerted once the next batch is ready.

Eric Emanuel

Instead of selling masks, Eric Emanuel has been including free masks featuring his signature logo with all recent online purchases. Half of the original run of masks was donated to healthcare workers on the front lines and as recently as last week the brand has burned through their entire supply. So for now, you’ll have to wait on grabbing a mask, but that wait will be worth it as Eric Emanuel is currently hard at work on a new supply that features busier psychedelic designs.

Follow the Eric Emanuel Instagram account to stay updated on the next drop.

Los Angeles Apparel

Los Angeles Apparel — owned by former American Apparel head Dov Charney — was one of the first labels to heed New York Governor Cuomo’s call for the fashion industry to aid in the production of masks and now their adjustable 100% cotton masks are commercially available in three-mask packs. Each mask features an adjustable nose strip to contour your face and two-straps that allow you to adjust your fit as needed.

Los Angeles Apparel is offering 26 different patterns, allowing you more variety to match with your current wardrobe.

Head to Los Angeles Apparel to grab your three-pack cotton mask pack now.

Profound

Profound’s take on the face mask sports a simple flat rectangular silhouette and features elegant sepia-toned patterns that match the brand’s streetwear meets fine art aesthetic. Patterns include a floral painting, an earthy paisley carpet design, a simple sharpie doodle reading “We’ve made it this far, kid,” a retro-leaning checkerboard design, and other iterations on the paisley bandana pattern.

Profound will donate some proceeds of each mask purchase toward the International Rescue Committee’s COVID-19 fund for refugee families, as well as donate funds towards procuring N95 marks to help assist healthcare workers in New York and New Jersey.

Shop the looks at Profound’s webstore.

The Hundreds

Los Angeles-based The Hundreds is currently offering two different face mask patterns, one that adopts the liquor-store staple paisley bandana patterning and the other that reps The Hundreds iconic bomb logo. Both masks are a 50/50 cotton and polyester blend, one-size-fits-most, and are entirely constructed in Los Angeles.

At $19 flat, they’re one of the better bargains on this list and with 25% of the profits going to benefit the Street Vendor Emergency Fund, you’ll be doing a small amount of good while leveling up your mask game. That’s a win-win.

Hit The Hundreds webstore to shop masks.

Supreme

Are you surprised to find the streetwear juggernaut on this list? Supreme has dropped a variety of face masks throughout the years, from their sleek Arabic logo neoprene masks, to their bulkier large-logo mask. A luxury streetwear must-have for the hype beasts who aren’t letting COVID-19 stop them from endlessly flexing.

Hit up Grailed or StockX to shop Supreme face masks.

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BTS Has Postponed Their Entire ‘Map Of The Soul’ 2020 World Tour

After a breakout year, BTS has shelved their massive global tour due to the pandemic. The group recently delayed the South Korean leg of their Map Of The Soul tour along with several US shows. Now, BTS has announced they are postponing the remainder of their world tour.

In an official statement, Live Nation addressed the cancelation: “Unfortunately, due to the ongoing government advisories on mass gatherings, BTS Map Of The Soul Tour – Europe has been postponed. Our highest priority remains the safety of our artists and fans as well as the global community. We ask for your generous understanding that this decision has been made in consideration of the safety and health of everyone involved. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.”

BTS’ label Big Hit Entertainment echoed Live Nation’s message in a statement:

“Due to the nature of BTS concerts involving travel by thousands of international fans no matter where the performances are held, it is also difficult to resume the tour with the current strict restrictions on cross-border movement still in place. Moreover it is impossible at this time to predict when the first performance marking the start of the tour will be able to begin. Therefore we have made the difficult decision to suspend the previously-announced tour schedule and develop a new schedule. Big Hit Entertainment will completely reschedule the tour and provide a new tour schedule to our fans as soon as it becomes clear when the tour can begin.”

BTS’ decision arrives after a wildly successful year. The K-pop boyband’s recently-released record Map Of The Soul: 7 became their fourth No. 1 in less than two years. The group also became the first K-pop band to ever have a record be certified Platinum in the US.

Map Of The Soul: 7 is out now via Big Hit. Get it here.

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‘The Last Narc’ Docuseries Trailer Promises To Unearth Truths About A Fallen Agent From ‘Narcos: Mexico’

Narcos: Mexico‘s second season launched with attempted justice for fallen DEA Agent Kiki Camarena (portrayed by Michael Peña), and his story will continue with an Amazon Original called The Last Narc. The four-part docuseries promises to dig much deeper into Kiki’s maneuverings while he infiltrated the Guadalajara Cartel, and the project’s format should bring focused results for Kiki fans. That’s especially the case since Netflix’s dramatization also made space for the rise and downfall of Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo (Diego Luna) and the dogged adventures from composite DEA Agent Walt Breslin (Scoot McNairy). In other words, Narcos: Mexico has been a fantastic ride so far, but The Last Narc looks like a more targeted answer to the overall Netflix phenom.

Amazon has already catered to the Narcos audience with the recent ZeroZeroZero (about the global reach of the cocaine trade), but this time, the effort is a more personal one. As the followers of Kiki’s tragic story know, his tenure with the fledgling DEA was cut short by his torture and execution. His wife, Mika, appeared as a well-rounded character (much more than the stereotypical “supportive wife”) on Narcos: Mexico, and she looks to play a significant part in this docuseries. That’s fitting, given that Mika Camarena continues to advocate for global recognition of her husband’s fate. Back when Narcos: Mexico first debuted, I wished for a Mika spinoff, and this might satisfy that urge.

From the official synopsis:

In the Amazon Original The Last Narc, former cartel insiders divulge the bone-chilling details behind the notorious murder and kidnapping of DEA Agent “Kiki” Camarena. Through never before seen interviews, this four-part docuseries will unravel the story of Camarena, the drug cartel he infiltrated, and the narc who risked everything to discover the truth.

Amazon Prime’s The Last Narc debuts on May 15.

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‘The Last Dance’ Director Jason Hehir On The Series’ Upcoming Surprises And Why Jerry Krause Shouldn’t Get All The Blame

On Monday, a new Michael Jordan meme hit social media. There’s Jordan in Jason Hehir’s The Last Dance, watching Isiah Thomas give an interview, and, well, reacting. Now, Michael Jordan is all over the internet reacting to a whole host of things. But the funny thing is, there are a lot more surprises coming, including a Jordan reaction shot to Gary Payton’s interpretation of the 1996 NBA Finals that puts the Isiah Thomas one to shame. (We’ll see that one in the eighth episode.)

Jason Hehir is a busy fellow these days. Now, famously, with so many people at home, ESPN moved The Last Dance from July to now, and it’s been a massive success. Four episodes have aired, but there’s still so much more coming. (Eight episodes were sent out to media. The last two episodes weren’t done yet when screeners went out.) This coming week spends a large portion of its time on the 1992 Dream Team. And Hehir was lucky enough to watch an hour of footage from the now-famous Dream Team scrimmage and tells us what that was like, which he says was maybe most interesting for the trash talk between Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan.

Hehir also gives us his thoughts on the much-discussed motivations of former Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause. Now, Krause died in 2017, so Hehir has to piece together his informed opinion, but dives deep into Krause’s mindset and warns that all isn’t what it seems and that it wasn’t just Krause’s ego alone that ended the reign of the Chicago Bulls. And, if it were possible, Hehir tells us the one question he’d ask Krause.

I know you’re busy, so thanks for taking the time. With how popular this is, it’s like getting time with the Pope.

[Laughs] I think the Pope’s schedule is a little bit more regimented than mine, and his fashion sense is certainly better than mine. And I doubt that he’s running out to the deli for chicken cutlet sandwiches every six hours.

You don’t know that, there’s a chance he is.

Who knows? He might be a Chick-fil-A guy.

Everyone on social media is talking about Michael Jordan’s reaction to the footage of Isaiah Thomas’ interview. Wait until they get a load of the Gary Payton scene, because that is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in the last five years, just that whole exchange.

Michael’s reaction?

Yes.

Well, that’s when the true Michael comes out. You hand him that thing and it’s almost like a time machine. It’s a portal back to prime MJ and you can just see it, it comes over his face, he’s locked back in. He goes from a 57-year-old grandfather retiree, who’s competitive on the golf course, to prime Michael Jordan who was the most ferocious competitor in the history of sports. So, he definitely wasn’t going to do that reaction if I had just read him what those guys said. I think he needs to see their face and hear their voice to bring him back to that place.

Before this premiered, there was that quote from Jordan about how he was worried that he’d look like a dick or whatever. But he comes off pretty hilarious.

He is.

Like, a hilarious dick.

Every group of friends has the guy who loves being around people and is that ball-buster. And that is Michael. This is not a guy who has reached ultra levels of fame and he’s Charles Foster Kane locked away in his capital. Michael wants to be around people and always has. So that’s why, as you see as the series goes on, it gets more and more difficult for him. You talk to the local Chicago beat writers and they’re the ones who said that Michael was the most outgoing and the most likely to stay around after practice and just shoot the shit with these guys and sit there and talk basketball and talk life and talk politics and talk anything else.

We see that in that clip where he’s complaining about getting asked on the road if he’s coming back next year, but he’s talking with the local Chicago press and makes it clear it’s not them, then he just hangs out.

You can tell that everybody in that room was relaxed. That kind of aura that’s present when someone that famous and that culturally significant walks into a room, it dissipates very quickly when he starts to interact with people because he’s so down to earth and he’s got such charisma that you can’t help but feel relaxed in his presence. So it’s nice to see that side of him in these interviews, because he was very relaxed and natural every day that we did these interviews and he was very generous with his time and his candor. And I’m so glad that people can see that side of him rather than just the basic Q&A podium Michael. And this is more of what it would be like to hang out with him and have a discussion.

So, let’s pretend for a second that Jerry Krause didn’t pass away three years ago and he agreed to do this. You get one question. What would you ask him?

“What do you regret the most about the breakup of that team?”

Are you under the assumption that he did, in fact, regret it?

I’m under the assumption that everyone has regrets. I think that the way that team broke up, it was so unnecessary because it was so much more about ego than it was about money. I’m under the impression that everyone looking back says, you know what, man? It was a 50-game season [because of an NBA lockout before the 98-99 seasson] and next season we could have gone for seven. And you’ll see more of Michael and the guys talking about that in episode ten. We go deep into that, about everyone’s reasons, from Reinsdorf to Michael on down. And that’s not to… I don’t want that question to come off as like, “you must regret something, now’s the time to come clean and apologize.”

Sure.

That’s not it at all. I think that Jerry Krause has an enormous amount to be proud of and that’s the kind of relationship I hope I would’ve forged with him. Once he sat down, that he knew where I was coming from and he felt safe with me, but of course he’s got regrets. I would ask him if he had any regrets, if he had any regrets about the way that situation was handled in the late ’90s and if he does have regrets, what he would have done differently.

He just seemed so malicious against Phil Jackson. It’s like Phil Jackson killed Jerry Krause’s dog or something. Like, the whole Tim Floyd thing — it’s really nuts. It’s almost like there had to be more going on than just, “I want more credit.” But I guess that’s it, right?

That’s it as far as I know. I mean, I spent years researching this before we even sat down with the major players here and I never got the sense that it was over much more than just pettiness and jealousy for attention and credit. And that doesn’t stop with Jerry — that’s everybody. That year, Phil was famous for giving books to players and anyone who was on that long road trip. The first long road trip of the year, he would give everyone a book that he had curated and chosen just for them. A reporter asked Phil, “What book are you giving Jerry this year?” And he said, “I don’t think Jerry’s getting a book from me this year.” Some of this stuff is so childish. It was like, well, what are you proving here? You’re in the course of making history with arguably the greatest basketball team of all time other than the Celtics in the ’60s and you’re going to break this up because people are sucking their thumbs over who gets credit and who deserves to be mad at who? So, I think everyone, especially after Jerry’s passing, time heals all wounds and those wounds heal a lot quicker when people pass away. Before you get a chance to truly tell them how you feel about them. How much you appreciate them and if you’re sorry. What you’d be sorry about. And I think there would be a lot of reciprocal expressions of appreciation and apology to go around. But it’s too late now, and that’s a shame.

And Krause’s quotes from the time make it sound like it’s easy to just put a team like that together again. And it didn’t happen. And then he gets into the Hall of Fame, but it’s after he died. It’s kind of sad.

Yeah, well, I think that the important thing to realize here, too, is how far back Phil and Jerry Krause’s relationship went. Jerry Krause scouted Phil Jackson when Phil was in college, when Jerry was a scout for the Washington Bullets. So he knew him for decades and recognized something in Phil that he thought would make a great head coach when Phil, as we demonstrated Sunday night, was just about out of coaching. He was ready to go back to Montana and get his law degree and do something else with his life. So Jerry kind of rescued him. And Jerry always felt that Phil owed him a debt of gratitude. And I think from Phil’s perspective, he brought Jerry six titles. So in reality, neither one of them owed the other one anything because they both provided so much. It was a very symbiotic relationship, but it became toxic.

Pat Riley calls it “the disease of more.” Once you win one, you win two, you win three: everybody wants more credit, more money, more adulation. And that’s what happened. So I think that Phil’s in the position where he’s… the villain is always going to be portrayed in public as the front office, as the rich guy who’s pulling the strings and isn’t out there running up and down the floor every night, playing hurt, and winning the actual titles. Because Jerry Krause is not dunking from the foul line. But he did do all that leg work. He did do the work necessary to put the pieces in place. His reputation and his legacy is fraught and I think that one of the things that I wanted to do in this is demonstrate how difficult it was for him to navigate those relationships and how cruel they could be to him. So, some people are misinterpreting that as the film ridiculing him. If anything, it’s the opposite. I want to demonstrate to people just what this guy went through on a daily basis.

Were there any restrictions that Jordan had for you? Because the thing that I noticed was that there’s never even a passing mention of his wife at the time or his kids. Was that off limits?

It wasn’t off limits. Because the marching orders at the outset of this thing, and Michael said this himself to me, that this is not the definitive Michael Jordan documentary. “You can do that when I’m six feet under in a pine box,” is what he said. And if it’s not going to be the definitive documentary about his life on and off the court, I wanted to tell the story of the Bulls Dynasty, starring Michael through the lens of the ’97-’98 season. His children do appear in this in “Episode X.”

Ah, okay.

We wanted to get them in there. We interviewed them. Michael’s remarried now and he’s got twin daughters and he’s in a new chapter of his life. But this is not a biopic. This is meant to be an examination of all the machinations of building a dynasty and what goes into that and how many characters were there to make up this once-in-a-lifetime team. So I always say, as absurd as it sounds, ten hours is not enough time to tell the full stories of all of these people. So we decided to dedicate a lot of time to telling B,C,D stories of all the guys who made up that team, rather than to concentrate on Michael too much.

So next week is the Dream Team episode. Did you actually watch that entire famous Dream Team? Isn’t that supposed to be this hallowed thing that not many people get to see? Because we get to see some of it in your film, but did you watch the whole thing?

I did, yeah. It was included. That’s been seen before in another NBA entertainment doc about the Dream Team.

Right, but not the whole thing?

That footage has been seen by people, but I don’t know how many people have gotten to sit there and watch it in full, which is a thrill for a fan. It’s incredible. It’s literally some of the best basketball ever played. So just to watch the intensity of those guys playing in a tiny gym with a referee, a local referee that they hired who barely spoke English. There should be a documentary on that. Because I’m sure that those couple of days for him were quite nerve-wracking.

Yeah, I bet he has some stories.

But those are the kind of moments, you’re sitting in an edit room by yourself at night, and you’re screening stuff and taking notes on…

How long is that? How long was that scrimmage?

I think we had about an hour of footage of that.

Oh, wow.

I think we had about an hour of footage of that game. They switched up teams a bunch and played back and forth a bunch. But I was more interested in – spectacular plays of course – anytime we could decipher what they were saying on the floor. Because it’s so echo-y and obviously none of the players are mic’d and they’re filming it with a home video camera from about 50 yards away. But anytime we could decipher what people were saying, I took note of those things because I just loved to hear it. Who wouldn’t want to hear everything these guys say to each other when they’re talking trash on the court? So it was a fun experience though, just to watch.

Was there one thing that stood out? A piece of trash-talking that was like, wow, that was good.

Well, I thought it was so telling when Magic Johnson said, “It’s just like we’re in Chicago Stadium again and you’re getting all the calls.” And then Michael came back at Magic and said, “This is the ’90s.” And the implication there was: your time is done. If there’s a passing of the torch moment, there’s a good argument for it being the ’91 finals when Magic hugs Michael and congratulated him on winning his first title. But even more so, it’s that Michael was now the alpha dog among all the alpha dogs and for Michael Jordan to shout at Magic from the sidelines, “This is the ’90s.” That means, your time was the ’80s and the new sheriff is in town. So I thought that was cool to hear.

You can contact Mike Ryan directly on Twitter.

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2 Chainz Has Changed His Mind On Reopening His Atlanta Restaurants And Is Feeding The Homeless Instead

Though many state officials have ordered the extension of stay-at-home measures in cities across the country, Atlanta’s governor Brian Kemp announced last week that he would be loosening restrictions on businesses closed due to the pandemic. Kemp’s decision received a handful of public backlash, including from Cardi B who condemned the decision. 2 Chainz holds a similar viewpoint and has changed his mind and decided to keep his Atlanta restaurant shuttered. Instead of reopening his business, the rapper passed out a number of free meals to those in need.

In lieu of reopening Escobar Restaurant and Tapas, 2 Chainz decided to feed his Atlanta community. According to a report from TMZ, 2 Chainz and his business partner Snoop Dillard gathered employees to feed over 120 homeless people a meal of chicken and garlic pasta from his restaurant’s kitchen. The duo made sure people were still adhering to the social distancing guidelines and Dillard even drove around the neighborhood to hand-deliver more meals.

While the rappers have decided to remain closed, Chainz and Dillard had originally planned to reopen their two locations for dine-in services Monday after seeing a whopping 95% decrease in business and being forced to furlough 80% of their staff. But they eventually reversed their decision after much consideration.

2 Chainz made fans aware of his charitable act through social media. “Instead Of opening @escobaratlanta up today we decided to feed the homeless,” the rapper wrote on Instagram.

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

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Janelle Monáe Doesn’t Remember Who She Is In The Mysterious ‘Homecoming’ Season 2 Trailer

Homecoming ended on a dramatic final scene, emphasis on the word “final.” I’m not sure anyone expected the psychological thriller series to return for another season, not that we’re complaining — the Julia Roberts season was one of 2018’s best binge-watches, and the new season, this time with Janelle Monáe in the lead role, looks really good, too.

In Homecoming season two, Monáe plays Jackie, who “wakes in a rowboat adrift a lake, with no memory of how she got there — or even who she is,” according to the official plot description. “Her ensuing search for identity will lead her into the heart of the Geist Group, the unconventional wellness company behind the Homecoming Initiative.” If this turns into a crossover with Devs, I would not be surprised. But I would be delighted.

Here’s more on season two:

The second season finds Stephan James reprising his role as Walter Cruz, who is trying to build a new life following the traumas of war and the Homecoming Initiative, when he begins to realize that there’s an even more insidious version of the program underway – if only he can remember. Hong Chau returns as Audrey Temple, an anonymous underling at Geist who finds herself thrust into unexpected positions at the top of the corporate ladder. Joining the cast are Oscar-winner Chris Cooper as Leonard Geist, the company’s eccentric founder; and Emmy-winner Joan Cusack as Francine Bunda, an equally eccentric military woman.

Chris Cooper and Hong Chau? Don’t mind if I do.

Homecoming returns to Amazon Prime Video on May 22.

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Sia Has Turned A Megan Thee Stallion Song Into A ‘Tiger King’ Parody For Charity

The Netflix documentary series Tiger King has become one of the defining media products of the ongoing quarantine era (along with the Chicago Bulls/Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance). It’s one of the most appealing options in a newly limited pool of entertainment choices, so it has turned into a phenomenon. The show has inspired a bevy of parodies, and now Sia has offered her own: A song named after the series’ star, “Joe Exotic.”

Set to the beat of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage,” Maddie Ziegler and make-up artist Tonya Brewer do most of the heavy lifting on the song (Sia is credited as a featured artist), which opens, “Joe Exotic / Breeds tigers and lions: chaotic / His obsession with Carol: psychotic.” Although Sia doesn’t show her full face in the video, she does, in the spirit of Megan Thee Stallion’s twerking prowess, pull up her long shirt and shake her backside for the camera. The visual for the song is decidedly quarantine-friendly, as it was all filmed in a backyard, a garage, and a house.

In the description, Sia directs viewers to a donation page for The Humane Society Of The United States, which “[fights] all forms of animal cruelty to achieve the vision behind our name: A humane society.”

Watch Ziegler, Brewer, and Sia perform “Joe Exotic” above.

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Chris Paul Confirmed He Was Nearly Traded To The Warriors For Steph Curry And Klay Thompson In 2011

The Los Angeles Clippers took the leap from league-wide laughing stock to a formidable squad in the Western Conference in 2011 when it acquired Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets. It was a trade that occurred under extremely strange circumstances — then-commissioner David Stern infamously voided a Paul trade between New Orleans and the Lakers — but it kickstarted a golden era of Clipper basketball, even if that never resulted in a championship.

However, the Clippers and Lakers were not the only west coast teams that tried to acquire Paul’s services. The new book The Victory Machine by Ethan Strauss features a fascinating tidbit about the Golden State Warriors attempting to trade Steph Curry and Klay Thompson for the All-NBA point guard, but it reportedly fell through because Paul told the Warriors he would not sign an extension with the team.

Paul was asked about this during a recent podcast cameo and confirmed that it’s all true, saying he had no interest in playing on the west coast until he got out there and experienced life in L.A.

“At that time, all I knew really about the bay is cause I had been there to play the games or whatever,” Paul told Paul Rivera and Maverick Carter of Uninterrupted. “And everything was just so hilly, and I just thought about Full House.”

Obviously this is a fascinating thing to look back on in retrospect. At least three NBA teams — Golden State, New Orleans, and the Clippers — are directly impacted by this move regardless of any other context. This doesn’t even begin to consider things like L.A. potentially going star hunting elsewhere, or some of the role players who ended up being staples of those Clippers teams like J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford potentially never ending up with the franchise, or someone other than New Orleans potentially getting the No. 1 pick and securing the services of Anthony Davis in the upcoming draft, or any of a host of other things that would have happened in the aftermath.

Things ended up working out pretty well for everyone involved to one extent or another, but it’s rare that this kind of deal that legitimately would have impacted titles, outlooks, and the careers of multiple All-Star players can be looked upon in retrospect.

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Offset, Young Thug, And Others Are Hosting A Live Virtual Reality Stadium Concert

As the coronavirus pushes musicians everywhere to postpone their shows or cancel their tours entirely, many artists have turned to livestream performances to bridge the gap in live entertainment. Artists like Death Cab For Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, James Blake, and Post Malone have taken it upon themselves to give their fans virtual performances online. Now, Offset aims to raise the bar on digital concerts. Rather than host an Instagram live, Offset will join friends for a high-production virtual reality concert.

Virtual reality organization Oculus Venues partnered with Supersphere VR to bring an immersive and energetic concert experience to fans from their homes. Offset tapped fellow rappers Saint Jhn, Rich The Kid, and Young Thug to join him in the performance. The rappers will be broadcasting their performances into the virtual venue and donations from the event will be donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

As part of the virtual experience, friends will be able to meet up inside the venue and enjoy the show together through VR headsets. According to Supersphere, the event will mimic a typical stadium show along with “actual production and stagecraft that fans would typically enjoy on tour.”

Offset’s VR performance kicks off 4/29 at 7 p.m. EDT. Watch it here.

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

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All The Best New Pop Music From This Week

Despite the quarantine, pop musicians to continue to spread uplifting music through bright anthems. Charli XCX released the second song off her “DIY” quarantine album, Kali Uchis released a surprise EP, and James Blake ushers in a new era with a shimmering single.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new releases. Listen up.

Charli XCX — “Claws”

Charli XCX continues creating her quarantine album, How I’m Feeling Now. Following the release of the lead single “Forever,” Charli is back with the metallic number “Claws.” Bright, wonky synths offer a pixelated background to Charli’s upbeat lyrics. “I like everything about you,” Charli sings over heavily-layered production.

Kali Uchis — “Angel”

Charli XCX isn’t the artist who has been working on new music from quarantine. Kali Uchis unveiled an EP filled with self-recorded tracks Friday and “Angel” arrives as the second number. The singer’s signature velvety cadence melts over a shimmering backbeat. “Can’t give you my album yet, but i recorded some demos in my room for u,” Uchis wrote on Twitter.

James Blake — “You’re Too Precious”

Following a series of spirited and earnest livestreams from quarantine, James Blake unveiled his first single of 2020. “You’re Too Precious” opens with Blake’s watered-down vocal track which ultimately morphs into a catchy, unassuming beat. Showcasing the full range of his voice, Blake praises his lover with intentionally choppy production.

PVRIS — “Gimme A Minute”

“Gimme A Minute” is the latest taste of PVRIS‘ upcoming third studio album Use Me. A moniker of multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Lynn Gunn, PVRIS furthers her knack for blissed-out alt-pop numbers with the single. In a statement, Gunn said the song is a sonic interpretation of dealing with mental health issues: “The pacing and dynamic of the song feels similar to when your mind starts to spiral on something, the quiet start slowly stirring and building eventually landing into chaos.”

Alina Baraz — “Off The Grid” Feat. Khalid

After teasing it with several singles, Alina Baraz released her vibe-heavy album It Was Divine this week. With its arrival came the slow-burning number “Off The Grid” with R&B crooner Khalid. Crafting an enchanting tune with a rolling beat, Baraz’s comforting inflection blankets the single.

Jessie Ware — “Ooh La La”

Jessie Ware continues to pivot towards groovy, dance-ready music with her latest track “Ooh La La.” Opening with a heavy, euphoric bass guitar, the single features resonating synths and crashing percussion. Over the hip-shaking instrumentals, Wares lilts a story about carefree young love.

Chloe Lilac — “Moderation”

Chloe Lilac continues to preview her forthcoming sophomore EP Moderation with the eponymous single. A pivot from her formerly-released singles, “Moderation” features noisy guitar and revved-up production. In a statement, Lilac wrote that the song is inspired by her past struggle with mental health: “This song is about my struggle with mental health and self-hatred. I’m a really intense person and I sometimes feel like people can only handle me in moderation.”

Alaina Castillo — “Pass You By”

Alaina Castillo showcases her emotive songwriting with the heart-wrenching single “Pass You By.” Castillo’s fingers glide over a smooth acoustic guitar while her soaring vocals narrate the importance of knowing one’s self-worth in the face of an emotionally toxic relationship.

Miquela — “Machine” Feat. Teyana Taylor

With our current modes of technology, it was only a matter of time before the arrival of a robot influencer — and Miquela was the first of her kind. The perpetual 19-year-old AI singer Miquela teamed up with rapper Teyana Taylor to debut the buoyant anthem “Machine.” In a statement, Miquela praised Taylor’s music. “Working with Teyana has been on my vision board for a MINUTE,” Miquela said. “The stars aligned once I found out she was recording in the studio next to mine. She was as perfect and cool as I imagined, and she brought that same energy to ‘Machine.’”

Gus Dapperton — “First Aid”

What started out as a bedroom pop project, Gus Dapperton grew over the course of several years and has honed his sound as a musician. After recently seeing viral fame due to his verse in Benee’s “Supalonely,” Dapperton is at his most vulnerable in “First Aid.” The track arrives as the lead single from his forthcoming sophomore album, the singer wrote: “In the past, I’ve written my songs from a place of love and heartbreak. This album is about internal pain and suffering.”

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