SZA is easily one of the biggest artists in the entire world right now. Overall, she has certainly earned that standing in the industry. With albums like CTRL and SOS, SZA has proven to the world that she is an incredible singer and songwriter. At the Grammys this past year, she won some awards and cemented herself at the top, yet again. Meanwhile, she also had herself an immensely successful tour that took her all around the world. At this point, you cannot question her talent.
Last night, SZA took to Instagram with a surprising post. As you can see below, she offered up a 2-minute cover of Eminem’s iconic song “Lose Yourself.” It is unknown what prompted the cover. With Eminem returning to music, perhaps the artist was just feeling inspired. Either way, the cover below is quite lovely. SZA brings her unique style to the table on this song, and it makes for a great re-work of a song that you wouldn’t expect to hear in this style. It just goes to show what an artist SZA is.
Fans were impressed by the cover, although they would certainly have loved to hear more. As for Eminem, he is catching a bit of heat for his new song. There are some bars about Megan Thee Stallion, R. Kelly, and the transgender community that have some scratching their heads. Em has always been controversial, so this probably shouldn’t surprise anyone. Either way, we are in an era where farming impressions seems to be the only way to survive, even if you’re already a legend.
Let us know what you think of this Eminem cover from SZA, in the comments section down below. Do you think that she did the song justice? Is this your favorite track from Eminem, and if not, what do you think belongs in the upper echelon of his discography? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
According to court documents reportedly obtained by XXL on Friday (May 31), Lil Zay Osama and his legal team entered a guilty plea in his federal firearm case on Thursday. For those unaware, this case has been in limbo since September of 2022, after an Uber driver found a Glock with a switch in his car after the Chicago rapper took a ride. He pleaded guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court and still hasn’t received a sentencing date, but could face a ten-year maximum or likely a 21 or 27-month sentence given federal guidelines. “I knowingly possessed a firearm that was a machine gun in Queens County on Sept. 29, 2022,” Zay reportedly expressed in court according to the New York Daily News. I know that it was wrong and against the law.
Furthermore, this whole incident came about when an Uber driver picked Lil Zay Osama and his colleagues up in Manhattan. He saw him holding a gun and then dropped them off in Queens, and it was after their exit that the driver found a modified Glock 22 .40 caliber with an “auto sear” device that Zay left behind. After the driver notified the cops, they arrested him. But the case took an odd turn later in November, as authorities dismissed the case.
However, things didn’t look bright for Lil Zay Osama for long, as in December of 2023, police arrested him on a weapons possession charge and alleged robbery. Then, in January, he received an indictment from a grand federal jury, which included charges of machine gun possession and possession of an unregistered firearm. “I guarantee n***as gone need me before I need them,” Zay seemed to respond to these charges on social media. “I’ll be home sooner than you think. Blink n***a [purple devil emoji].”
Meanwhile, now all that’s left for him is to wait for his sentence and hope for the best. We hope that this is Lil Zay Osama’s last legal obstacle on the way, and that he’s able to not just grow from these experiences but turn them into something positive. It may seem small or flat-out warranted to the average reader, but the constance of these circumstances and the places they come from require a much more nuanced conversation. Here’s hoping this gets him closer to that discussion in his personal life and beyond.
The Death of Slim Shady, Eminem’s latest album, has been heavily anticipated as the legend has been hyping it up for a while. Em just dropped “Houdini” and has the internet in a buzz. The Detroit legend is seemingly going back to his old style, which is interesting. The fact that Eminem is going all out on this song simply serves to highlight the impression that it’s the last one. Music appreciator LeBron James has weighed in on the new single. LeBron, who is known for jamming to music in his car around LA and trying his best to lip sync, has left his review.
LeBron revealed his thoughts on Twitter, and it’s safe to say King James is digging Eminem’s return. James and Slim Shady are currently collaborating on the forthcoming hip-hop docuseries HOW MUSIC GOT FREE, which explores an important era of music at the turn of the 21st century. LeBron is clearly cool with Eminem, but the devoted hip-hop head that he absolutely loves the new song. Lebron wrote on Twitter, “And just like that, HE’S BACK bruh! @Eminem Houdini is too good! ”
The fact that Eminem is going all out on this song simply serves to highlight the impression that it’s the last one. Undoubtedly, “Houdini” exemplifies “looking back.” In the end, Eminem’s lyrical decisions have made him a naturally divisive musician. This is especially true given that his previous publications have been viewed by some as either subpar or downright awful. Currently, people are obsessed with a single remark that was taken to be a jab at Megan Thee Stallion. The line has caused some backlash from some fans, but not LeBron James.
The question for LeBron is if he can rap the lyrics correctly. Surprisingly, LeBron was singing along to Gunna’s most recent song and understood every word. This shocked fans after LeBrons history of posting videos of himself rapping to songs and getting the lyrics super wrong. Overall, LeBron is digging all of this new music. LeBron James, like many fans, is anticipating Eminem’s new album.
Ice-T is someone who frequently speaks on the biggest topics of the day on social media. Overall, he has never shied away from a topic, even if it is a bit controversial. For instance, he will talk about politics, sex, and everything in between. Yesterday, the actor found himself in the midst of a debate surrounding legendary musician Lenny Kravitz. As we reported, Kravitz revealed in a recent interview that he has been celibate for the last nine years. He hasn’t found a relationship, and he is just taking things day by day.
This subsequently led to a strong response from Ice-T, who let his feelings be known on Twitter, now known as X. “Hey…If you’re a guy and you can voluntarily go 9yrs without sex… you’re following the wrong page,” the artist wrote. A few fans question Ice for his take, noting that Kravitz isn’t hurting anyone and that this was simply his choice. Ice-T then doubled down on his position, saying “shit’s weird to me. I love to fuck… A lot.”
In the comments section over at The Neighborhood Talk, Ice T got a lot of flack from fans. “Imagine not understanding self-control and self-discipline,” one person wrote. “I’ve been celibate for almost 11 years. No unplanned pregnancies, No STD’s & no drama. life is good,” said another. Many of the comments were of a similar tone. At the end of the day, people can live how they want, and in the eyes of fans, celibacy shouldn’t be considered “weird.”
Let us know what you think of Ice T and his comments here, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that he was being too harsh on Lenny Kravitz? Also, what do you make of Kravitz’s recent admission? Is it really that big of a deal? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Young Thug’s trial resumed Thursday at 10 a.m. and will continue Friday at 1 p.m., marking over six months since witness testimony began on Memorial Day.
Jeffery Williams, known as Young Thug, was arrested on May 9, 2022, along with 27 others in Buckhead as part of a 56-count indictment. Two years later, he remains on trial in an Atlanta courtroom. The trial has set records for the longest jury selection process in Georgia history, surpassing the 2014-15 Atlanta Public Schools trial. It is also likely to include a state record for the length of witness testimony.
The trial, which has faced numerous disruptions, began on November 27 with an opening statement from Fulton County Assistant Chief District Attorney Adriane Love. Defense attorneys have expressed concerns that the trial could extend for years due to the extensive witness list.
Delays from the start have marred the ongoing “Young Slime Life” gang trial, and yet again Wednesday, due to technical difficulties. State witness Detective Jason Teague was testifying about a fatal shooting in 2015 when Judge Ural Glanville asked for a 15-minute break. Get this: the internet went out. “It appears our internet is still out or down countywide, at least on this side of the building,” Glanville told attorneys and defendants before dismissing the jury. “These kind of things happen, it’s nobody’s fault.”
Prosecutors allege that YSL (Young Slime Life) is a criminal street gang involved in various offenses, while the defense contends that YSL is merely a record label, Young Stoner Life. Young Thug faces eight criminal counts under Georgia’s RICO law, which targets organized crime. Additionally, he is charged with possession of marijuana and codeine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm, and possession of a machine gun.
Defense attorneys argue that Young Thug is not the gang leader prosecutors claim he is. So far, 18 jurors have been selected, including six alternates. Two jurors have been excused: one due to a medical emergency and another due to relocation from Fulton County.
Recently, Breakfast Club Radio host Charlamagne tha God criticized former President Trump on Tuesday, labeling him a “threat to democracy” and accusing him of leading an “attempted coup.”
On Fox News, Charlamagne stated, “Let the record show, I totally agree with Robert De Niro. I am one of the people who suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome. I think he is a threat to democracy.”
He spoke on Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, and claimed that Trump sought to suspend parts of the Constitution to overturn the 2020 election results. “I think that he led an attempted coup of this country,” Charlamagne added.
Charlamagne came with receipts and highlighted a December 2022 Truth Social post where Trump wrote, “A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” He commented, “He said we should suspend the Constitution to overthrow the results of the election. He said it on Truth Social, then said he didn’t say it.”
Last week, Charlamagne said he would vote for the candidate who he believes can “preserve democracy,” though he expressed dissatisfaction with both Trump and Biden, calling them “trash” candidates. No argument there, but this was all before Trump was just convicted on 34 felony counts.
While he endorsed Biden in 2020, he declined to do so this time, telling The View, “If I think both candidates are trash, and I don’t feel like endorsing one, would you rather me endorse an individual or endorse the fact that, hey, we need to go out there and protect democracy?”
“If I’m sitting here telling my listeners that you have somebody out there who is a threat to democracy, you have somebody out there who said they want to suspend the Constitution to overthrow the results of an election, you saw this person try to lead an attempted coup of this country,” he said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Despite his straightforward critiques, Charlamagne has indicated he will vote for Biden, though he has not shied away from criticizing the incumbent. He even suggested last year that Biden should drop out of the race amid low poll numbers.
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of the best vinyl releases of May below.
Justice — Hyperdrama
Ed Banger Records/Because Music
Justice had one of the month’s best new albums with Hyperdrama, which includes features from Miguel and Tame Impala. The 2-LP release (a double black 140g vinyl in a gatefold sleeve) bears on the front its striking cover art, an organic spin on their classic cross imagery.
Modest Mouse — Good News For People Who Love Bad News: 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition
Legacy Recordings
Good news: Good News For People Who Love Bad News is 20 years old now and Modest Mouse is celebrating by reissuing the album. The release has new cover art and the vinyl edition specifically is pressed on baby pink and spring green vinyl and five new remixes by folks like Dan The Automator and Jacknife Lee.
DIIV recently told Uproxx of their new album, “For a lot of people, that is part of what they fell in love with with the first two albums — this rich, dreamy atmosphere that is very feelings-forward. Rather than this song has an amazing bridge and an amazing chorus. A lot of times with the earlier songs, sometimes there wasn’t even a chorus, but it didn’t really matter because the song felt so good to listen to. I feel like the new album has an element of that which makes it feel more comprehensive in our catalog.”
The 180 gram red ECO pressing is limited to 500 copies and still available, but we can’t imagine that will be the case for long.
Will we hear from Black Sabbath again? Maybe! Either way, we’ll always have their music, and now their self-titled debut album is on vinyl once again via Rhino’s High Fidelity series, which is limited to 5000 copies of 180-gram vinyl pressing.
Also from the same Rhino series, which boasts Kevin Gray as personally overseeing the pressings, 1980’s Freedom Of Choice is an essential for any collection for two predominant reasons: It’s the album with “Whip It,” and it’s the album that saw Devo introduce their now-iconic energy dome hats. This reissue is a special edition of a special album: it’s a AAA cut from the original stereo master tapes, it comes with exclusive notes from album producer Robert Margouleff, and, like the Sabbath release, only 5,000 numbered copies are being pressed.
The highly anticipated A24 horror film I Saw The TV Glow came out this month, and it has quite the soundtrack, too, featuring Phoebe Bridgers, Caroline Polachek, Bartees Strange, and more. The vinyl edition is even better, as it comes with a vinyl exclusive cover of The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight” by Snail Mail (who has an acting role in the movie, by the way). It’s also one of the best movies of the year, so be sure to check it out while it is still in theaters.
The Above The Rim soundtrack was one of the more iconic R&B- and hip-hop-oriented OSTs of the ’90s, and now that it’s 30 years old, it has gotten a fresh reissue. Like the cassette edition before it, this rerelease includes tracks that were from from the CD version, including a pair of Tupac songs.
Sylvan Esso has marked a decade of their self-titled debut album with a deluxe edition. Goodies include a cover of Porches’ “The Cosmos,” “Jamie’s Song” (which debuted in 2015), and new remixes by J Rocc, Rick Wade, Helado Negro, Dntel, Hercules And Love Affair, and Charles Spearin. There are a number of vinyl editions available, including one that’s only available from record stores in North Carolina.
Bob Marley & The Wailers’ 1997 album Exodus is iconic and spawned some of the group’s biggest hits, including “Jamming,” “One Love/People Get Ready,” and “Three Little Birds.” In celebration of the recent Bob Marley: One Love biopic, the album has been re-released, including an exclusive 10-inch LP of rare bonus tracks.
Pete Townshend — All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (Reissue) and White City (A Novel) (Reissue)
Atco Records
Pete Townshend followed 1980’s Empty Glass (the “Let My Love Open The Door” album) with a pair of solo albums that have now been reissued. Both projects received a half-speed mastering by longtime The Who engineer Jon Astley.
After landing a recurring role in Abbott Elementary, Vince Staples kept his acting momentum going with Netflix’s The Vince Staples Show. The series was well-received, with a response that has now prompted Netflix to give the program a second season, it was officially confirmed yesterday (May 30).
Staples said in a statement (as Variety reports), “The ‘Vince Staples Show’ is back! The people have spoken and the most riveting, captivating, and polarizing show on Netflix is returning for season 2. Get ready for hijinks that only a mother can love. Thank you, Netflix!”
Netflix and Staples also teased/confirmed the news on social media with straightforward posts.
It would appear that Staples calling his fans to action has worked: In February, in response to a fan asking for more episodes, Staples tweeted, “Netflix didn’t buy anymore episodes so make sure you hit that double thumbs up. Peer pressure works and I’m tryna re up.”
In an Uproxx interview from that month, Staples said, “Hopefully, it performs well and we are able to keep it going. That’s kind of how we got situated over here with Netflix, and I think it came out good. I feel like no matter how it ends up, we gave a round story and gave it some closure, some context. So I think we’ll be good either way.”
