Features

Are Lil Durk And King Von Related?

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People are wondering if Lil Durk and King Von are related. King Von passed away on November 6, 2020. Tribute posts flooded social media. These came from listeners and of course, those who knew him personally. Lil Durk was one of the people who posted one. The caption he used referred to King Von as his “baby bro”. Listeners began to speculate if there was something deeper behind this. Lil Durk is an artist that had very close ties to him. Their relationship was strong outside the booth too.

King Von and Lil Durk were a very well-known pair in the Chicago rap music world. They did not have an official name as a duo. At least, not musically or one that was known by the general public. The two of them never officially dropped a collab project. Durk had been a figure in the Chicago music scene for years. Von’s come-up came after his but their come-up journeys were still aligned. They mostly stuck to the music but were also involved in serious criminal situations.

Lil Durk and King Von Have Had Criminal Charges

ATLRapper King Von attends Compound Saturday Nights.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

Their verses are a product of the things they grew up around. They have both shared many situations in their music that were a part of their upbringing. Many of these situations were still around them as adults. Multiple artists have spoken out against the type of music they made. The argument is that someone has to share their experiences with the world. Also, the situations happened in the past and they have moved past them. They did not want to encourage people to do the things they used to do.

Lil Durk and King Von were involved in a criminal case together. The situation was quite complex but it resulted in the charges for Lil Durk being dropped. Before this, Lil Durk released an appropriately titled song “Turn Myself In” that had multiple references to the situation. Also amidst the situation, King Von began handing out bundles of cash to residents of Chicago’s O’ Block area. They both handled the reality of the charges they faced differently. The situation brought more ears to their music and more attention to their social media too.

Many people were commenting “Slide for Von” on Lil Durk’s posts after King Von passed. This meant they wanted Durk to get revenge for Von’s death. This is something many people had an issue with. It would only continue the cycle. Rappers have spoken about wanting this cycle to end. Durk responded to the comments in a line by saying the people were trolls. He did not want to jeopardize his career over revenge.

Lil Durk and King Von Have a Long Musical History

Rapper Lil Durk performs during “One Big Party Tour”.(photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

Durk and Von have been on multiple songs together. Lil Durk signed him to his label Only The Family in 2018. King Von’s first mixtape, Grandson, Vol. 1 had two appearances from Lil Durk on it. His first album, Welcome to O’Block, also had two appearances from Lil Durk. The Only The Family label released two projects and Durk and Von had a song together on the second one.King’s Von posthumous album, What It Means to be King, has one appearance from Lil Durk. His posthumous mixtape, Levon James, has two.

King Von has made appearances on projects from Lil Durk as well. The first one was on Lil Durk’s album Love Songs 4 The Streets 2. Another Only The Family album, Family Over Everything also has King Von on it. Lil Durk’s album, The Voice is credited as a tribute to King Von. The cover art has both of them on it. Additionally, it also has “Long Live Grandson” on the cover. As I previously mentioned, Grandson, Vol. 1, was the name of Von’s debut mixtape.

Lil Durk and King Von are not related. However, they are both from the same area of Chicago. Throughout the years, they have formed a strong bond. Often people will refer to each other as brothers because of this. The bond may not be blood but it feels like one. Sometimes, the older person in the relationship becomes a mentor. Lil Durk was older than King Von and a mentor of sorts to him. He helped him focus on his music.

Durk referred to Von as “baby bro” because of the relationship they had. Due to their similar music and lifestyle, he also called him his twin. This shows how he feels they mirrored each other. Von was someone Durk was able to uplift. He treated him like a brother. They were not related but family does not always involve blood.

[Via]

Microtransactions Could Be Ruining Gaming

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Microtransactions could be ruining gaming for players. With games already being a whopping $70 for the latest generation consoles, spending additional money on them adds up. Most older players do not feel obligated to make microtransactions but younger ones often have a different experience. Having the latest skin for your character is a status symbol. In some cases, microtransactions are “pay-to-win” which means you can purchase items that give you an advantage over other players. This is many players’ main issue with microtransactions.

However, with younger players, their parents are usually spending the money on the microtransaction. Sometimes, the child takes matters into their own hands and this often does not work out well. Older players often don’t make microtransactions because they feel the items are not worth their price. Item bundles are often around $20 which is around ⅓ of the price of the game itself. With games like Call of Duty, many players feel more attention is given to the bundles instead of maintaining the quality of the game itself.

In games like Fortnite, bundles are often connected to large IPs (Intellectual Properties). This means players can use characters from Marvel, DC, Dragonball Super or even John Wick himself. Sometimes music artists like Travis Scott are in the game. Younger players are the main target with these bundles while some older players see them as cash grabs. Fortnite does collaborations like these pretty regularly which provides constant income for the free-to-play game. The headlines of the characters/people in the game generate interest every time.

The Bundles Of Video Games

(L-R) Christian Watson, Rahsaan Lewis, and Bo Melton play in the COD game play area during Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II event at the 2022 NFL Draft. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Activision)

In several cases, when one bundle is purchased on a game’s store page, another one takes its place. After making a purchase, a player may see something they are far more interested in than the one they just bought. The refund process is complex and players often would rather accept the loss of money than attempt that process. The store page often shows up differently for all players so one player may have something available on their screen that another player cannot even see.

Additionally, with bundles, sometimes items are promised but not delivered. In shooting games, a gun may be one color on the store page. But once you buy it, the color is slightly different once your character is holding it. The same thing can happen with a gun’s tracer rounds. Bullets naturally look yellow-orangish when shooting so players feel advertising a gun with “yellow” or “orange” tracer rounds is not fair. Many players often directly call these situations false advertising.

Microtransactions have seen two iterations in recent years: blind/loot boxes and bundles. With the former, you are taking a risk because you do not know what items you are even getting. The incentive for these is you are often guaranteed you won’t get any items you already have. Or, you are guaranteed one item specifically. With the bundles, you know exactly what you are getting but out of the five or so items, you may only be interested in three of them. There is no a la carte option.

This Has Been A Huge Issue For Video Gamers

Atmosphere seen during Call of Duty: Vanguard launch event with a first-ever verzuz concert. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images For Activision )

Microtransactions have become such an issue for players that games who don’t have them use that as a selling point. Naturally, this separates them from those that do but other aspects of the game may suffer. The gameplay itself may have issues or there may be issues with server connectivity. Not every developer has the same budget but even the multi-million dollar ones have the same issues as the smaller ones. This causes confusion amongst players as they wonder what is being done with the money they are spending.

However, a more favored microtransaction is a battle pass. A battle pass is often $10 but players get 100 “tiers” worth of items for the game. These items are all cosmetic and like with bundles, some items are much more enticing to players than others. The item at the 100th tier of the battle pass is often the “best” one but naturally this depends on the player’s preference. Progression through this battle pass is connected to how much time players spend playing the game.

Furthermore, another more pleasantly received microtransaction is a season pass. A season pass allows the player to pay a one time fee to get Downloadable Content (DLC) in the game’s cycle. They are not getting new items for “free” but getting them for no additional fee as they are released. This method completely eliminates the need for separate purchases. But, if something comes out that a player doesn’t want they’ve essentially still paid for it.

There Have Been Attempted Boycotts

T-Pain speaks onstage for Call of Duty: Vanguard launch event with a first-ever verzuz concert. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Activision)

Players have attempted to boycott the unfair practice of microtransactions by not purchasing a game’s battle pass or bundles for the current season. Players believe once the developer sees the numbers are lower for the amount spent on the microtransactions they will change their behavior. However, in most cases the amount of players who do this is significantly lower than those who continue to purchase the bundles overall. Additionally, most players who are boycotting were already not regularly spending money on the bundles.

Furthermore, microtransactions can often lead to other microtransactions. A specific bundle may not be available until a different bundle connected to it is purchased. This, once again, forces players to get something they may not want to access something they do actually want. Additionally, there is usually a waiting period between when the first purchase is made and when the second level of additional items can be accessed. Many players think this greedy because it helps inflate the number of purchases for the bundle in the company’s earnings report.

Microtransactions have been around for multiple years. In the past, Call of Duty had microtransactions in the form of map packs. Players could pay a set price for up to 5 additional maps to play on. The original issue with this format was players who did not have the map packs would naturally be separated from those who did. This is one of the first instances of microtransactions causing a divide amongst a game’s player base. In the years since, Call of Duty has changed this format and offers new maps to players for free.

Microtransactions Also Occur In Fighting Games

Signage seen during Call of Duty: Vanguard launch event with a first-ever verzuz concert. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Activision)

In fighting games, microtransactions are how players obtain more characters for their roster. With games like Dragonball FighterZ, new characters are regularly appearing in the anime so they are added to the game as time progresses. With games like the Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat series, players feel some characters should not be in the game at launch to make room for characters players want more. This way they don’t have to make a microtransaction to get them.

With single player games, microtransactions are often DLC that expands the storyline of the game. In the case of Marvel’s Spider-Man, these stories involved Spider-Man getting involved in new situations with new characters. In Ghost of Tshushima, the DLC involved lead character Jin Sakai traveling to a new location in the game and doing new activities with new characters.

Also, in some cases, the novelty of a microtransaction is what makes it worth it for players. In the Call of Duty games, there have been microtransactions where players could purchase surprising but fitting bundles. These bundles included being able to play as Sylvester Stallone’s character Rambo, Bruce Willis’ character John McClain from the Die Hard film series. In Call of Duty: Vanguard, you could play as Snoop Dogg. In other games, Snoop Dogg’s voice could also be purchased as an announcer as well as Method Man’s.

Microtransactions are not likely to be removed from games on a grand scale any time soon. They have proven to be a huge source of income and they will continue to be. All game developers claim to “listen to their community” but more often than not this isn’t fully true. They may fix some issues the game is having but will not initiate the removal of the number one aspect players want removed: microtransactions.

Lil Uzi Vert’s Forehead Diamond Is Gone

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Lil Uzi Vert made headlines everywhere when a $24M diamond was implanted in his forehead. Created by popular jeweler Eliantte & Co, the diamond was a rose pink and shaped like an oval. It was right in the middle of his forehead and very eye catching – or distracting. Uzi already has several face tattoos but, this addition takes the art up several notches.

We often see rappers making extravagant purchases but this was in league of its own. And, considering this is Lil Uzi Vert, it lines up well with his vibrant personality. Uzi has often worn extravagant outfits and done even more extravagant things to his hair. He is an excellent example of self expression and confidence. Many people commend him for truly being himself in every way possible. But sometimes, self-expression can have consequences. Like all decisions, they have a cause-and-effect clause and some effects are more impactful than others. Uzi spent a ton of money on his facial diamond, but if you’ve seen any recent videos or pictures of the Philly rapper, you may notice he no longer has it.

Lil Uzi Vert got his diamond implant in February 2021 and by July 2021 it was gone. And apparently, it was not removed voluntarily. It was taken from Uzi during a performance at Rolling Loud Miami. Uzi fans are often as energetic and over the top as he is. Moshpits are common and encouraged at his shows. Uzi has called himself a rockstar multiple times too. Organized chaos is something that’s right up his alley. It’s not surprising someone would attempt to remove it by force. Uzi entered a sea of his fans and this did not end well for him.

Rappers turning up with their fans is a mixed bag situation every time. Some fans can be over eager and sometimes this can get truly out of hand. Sometimes a fan hopes they will get close enough to the artist to do something truly over the top. This is what happened with Lil Uzi Vert. Amongst the excitement, one fan pulled the diamond right out of his forehead.

Lil Uzi Vert’s Diamond Almost Ruined his Life Insurance

Rappers deal with some of the trials of life we go through – at a higher level. Life insurance is something we should all have but we don’t always think about it. Rappers usually have multiple streams of income and spend money as they make it. They also must pay for things like studio time, features and other matters that are in the rap world. But, they also have bills to pay and have to consider things all adults consider.

They have a different lifestyle than most but some things are just mostly unavoidable. Life insurance is one of those things. Lil Uzi Vert was not thinking about it at all when he got his implant. He was surprised that his insurance company contacted him. “I never even thought about my insurance company, like my life insurance. I just started living life…” He said once he heard from them. He was worried his coverage would end.

Lil Uzi Vert decided not to have the diamond re-implanted. Naturally, getting it in the first place was a very long process. He started paying for it in 2017 and did not get it until 2021. For some people, this sounds like an investment. At the end of the day, Uzi had a goal and he carried it out. It ultimately resulted in a loss for him but also a life lesson.

Uzi has stated that he does still have the diamond. Considering all that it has been through, Uzi may be able to make his money back twice over if he sells the diamond. At the same time, he may not even consider selling it for the same reason. The memory of the entire ordeal will be in his mind forever. But, I don’t think any fans will be forgetting about it any time soon either. They will be able to move past it but they’ll always remember it.

Twitter users were quick to compare Uzi’s loss to a pivotal moment from Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War. In it, a character named Thanos rips a powerful stone from the forehead of another character named Vision. Memes of this moment were already circulating before the “Just Wanna Rock” rapper even lost the diamond. Naturally, they spiked in popularity once the truth came out. Some might call this a situation where manifestation did not bring positive results. Meanwhile, in some recent pictures, a septum-like piercing has replaced the diamond. Since Uzi has moved past the ordeal and is doing fine, the jokes can fly without guilt.

[Via]

Where Is Rolling Loud 2023

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Starting March 3rd through March 5th 2023, the annual Rolling Loud festival will begin. Making the first of many stops in Inglewood, CA at the Hollywood Park grounds. Inglewood is the first of two stops nationally and one of many internationally.

How It Started

What began in 2015 in Miami as a way to, “create a festival to showcase the best in hip hop music”, has become an annual international sensation. Created by Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, two best friends who have known each other since their time in Hollywood, FL elementary school. After throwing successful parties in high school their first foray into professional live music was a 2010 after-party. The event was headlined by Rick Ross and was not a success. In fact, it left Ziggler bloodied and in need of stitches. As well as leaving them both out of tens of thousands of dollars. At that point they knew they needed a new game plan.

They began booking rappers both well-known and unknown for dates around the Florida area. They also began to study the way that EDM shows captivate their audiences. Shortly thereafter, Rolling Loud was born. The very first Rolling Loud festival took place February 28th, 2015 at Soho Studios in the Wynwood section of Miami, FL. Big names like Action Bronson, Schoolboy Q, A$AP Ferg, Juicy J, and Curren$y all came together to grace the stage for the day-long event. In the years since then it has grown and expanded to the point that it has gone from one day to a full weekend. It has also gone from one local location to a highly recognized international festival. 

This Year’s Lineup

Rolling loud is considered to be the largest hip hop festival in the world. The focus that it has on hip hop is what sets it apart from other music festivals. Other festivals tend to sprinkle hip hop acts few and far between, while Rolling Loud dedicates its entirety to the genre. This year’s line up is chocked full of big names just as the years prior have been. This year’s festival kicks off with Playboy Carti as the headliner on Friday. He is most known for his hits, “Sky” and “Magnolia”, among a host of others. Set to perform the same day are Kodak Black, Tyga, Trippie Redd, DaBaby, Saweetie, Souljah Boy and 28 other artists as well.

Saturday, the second of the three day long event is headlined by Travis Scott. Other performers taking the stage that day include; Lil Baby, 2 Chainz, Kevin Gates, City Girls and another 34 other artists that were not mentioned. The weekend long hip hop festival concludes with Future as the headliner. As well as special guest Lil Wayne. Other artists set to take the stage are: Lil Uzi Vert, Tory Lanez, MoneyBagg Yo and 40 other performers. So in total there will be over 100 artists taking to the stage in Inglewood this coming weekend.

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices for Rolling Loud range in price depending on what you are looking to get out of the experience. General admission tickets were starting at $329 per person. The prices only go up from there. For the three day VIP passes, they were starting at $849 per person. The VIP Munchie three day pass starts at $999 per person. For almost a thousand dollars, here is the list of perks that are included. Exclusive Front row stage viewing access, access onto festival grounds & VIP Areas, 10 meal tickets to experience all of our food options, exclusive VIP merch pack, air conditioned restrooms, expedited entry into the festival, dedicated private bar, free makeup touch-ups at Bunny’s Bae Bar, dedicated private food & beverage vendors, live art installations, private merchandise store, as well as shaded, chill areas with seating. 

Set Times 

With so many artists performing in just a few days, the outdoor area will be divided among multiple stages. Throughout the varying stages performances with range depending on the artist. They seem to range anywhere from 20 minutes for unknown artists to an hour for headliners.The festival hours are from 3PM till 11PM both Friday and Saturday while Sunday’s festivities begin at 1PM ending at 11PM. Festival goers have had the opportunity upon purchasing their wristbands and downloading the Rolling Loud app to personalize and save a schedule of all of the artists they want to see. The saved schedule shows a list of the artists in order by date and time along with the exact stage that they will be performing on. 

The festival kicks off tomorrow and runs through the fifth of March. From there it will head to the place of its origin in Miami taking over the Hard Rock stadium July 21st through the 23rd. Tickets are still available for purchase through www.RollingLoud.com.

De La Soul’s Top Streaming Songs To Date

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De La Soul is one of the most important groups in the foundation of hip-hop. Not only do they represent the power of a rap group but they also represent the power of lyricism. They were known for rapping over a plethora of unique samples. Most recently, the group has been in the news for both unfortunate and fortunate reasons. The unfortunate reason is one of their members, Trugoy The Dove, recently passed away at the age of 54. The fortunate reason is their first six albums will be available for streaming on March 3rd, 2023. This will be the 34th anniversary of their debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising. Ahead of this historic day, we wanted to celebrate the biggest songs that have been able to make it to streaming up to this point.

Note: At the time of this writing, these are the songs with the highest streaming numbers. The songs are likely to change once their discography is added.

#10 Quiet Culture – Ibrahim Maalouf (feat. Pos of De La Soul)

This first entry is the most recent so naturally it has the lowest amount of streams out of this group. That is in no way a reflection of the quality of the song. Released in 2022, this one is a collaboration between Posdnuos and jazz trumpeter and pianist Ibrahim Maalouf. The track comes from Maalouf’s album which also features other notable artists.The first minute or so of the track is drumless as and we hear Pos flow over Maalouf’s trumpet and piano. Once the drums come in the song picks up and a children’s sounding choir assists with the song’s hook. Pos’ flow on the second verse features some flow switches and Maalouf’s trumpet takes a backseat of sorts. On this one we get three verses and each one is more motivational than the last as we get advice for getting through life. 

#9 Eye Know

The samples in this song are all iconic and instantly recognizable for many. They all come together to create a pleasant atmosphere for the two MCs to rhyme over. Their smooth yet upbeat bouncy flows pair well with the melodies. This song is also iconic because of its music video and how it showcases the epitome of the image De La Soul had at the time. The brightly colored backgrounds and flower graphics lined up really well with the positive image they were presenting. The wholesomeness of the song itself added to this as it is a love song. Trugoy and Pos share their intentions for their lover and it may seem they are after the same woman. Referring to themselves as “Plug One” and “Plug Two”, they explain why they are better than other men the woman has met. 

#8 The Magic Number

This is a track most people today are probably familiar with. It’s one of the biggest singles De La Soul ever had and this is due to a few reasons. One of course, is the sample of “Three is a Magic Number” from the series Schoolhouse Rock. Many of their listeners grew up watching this show and have a nostalgic connection to the original song. Fast forward to 2022 and Marvel fans heard it during the end credits of Spider-Man; No Way Home. Since there were three Spider-Men in that movie and there are three members of De La Soul, it just worked out perfectly. The joy of the song could now be shared with new generations and form a connection for the older one and the current one. 

#7 Baby Got Work – Potatohead People (feat. Pos of De La Soul)

Potatohead People are a Canadian producer duo consisting of Nick Wisdom and AstroLogical. Producers are just as important as the rappers themselves especially in this day and time. On this track, Potatohead People give Pos a landscape of jazzy and electronic noises to flow over. Trugoy is absent from this one but Pos holds it down and represents the trio well. Pos’s rapping does not distract listeners from the production nor the reverse. They come together and enhance each other. Kapok provides some sung vocals for the hook that Pos has an equal contribution to. This is one of the most recent songs from De La Soul and fits in very well with their expansive discography. This track came out in 2020 and sounds modern while still keeping the spirit of traditional hip-hop alive.

#6 He Comes – (feat. Ghostface Killah)

De La Soul and Wu-Tang Clan are both giants in terms of 90s hip-hop representation, However, if you have heard a song from either group, you know how different they are. There is nothing wrong with this as it only makes this collaboration all the more important. Ghostface Killah hails from Wu-Tang clan and represented them well on this track. In fact, his bridge declares that this collaboration was inevitable because they’ve both been killing the game for so long.  His verse is full of internal rhyme schemes and other word gymnastics. Posdnuos and Trugoy hold it down with solid verses too and the song’s sample serves as a brief but soulful hook between verses.

#5 Fallin’ – De La Soul and Teenage Fanclub

Teenage Fanclub is a Scottish alternative rock band. While there are multiple aspects of the golden age of hip-hop people often cite, one sticks undoubtedly: unexpected collaborations. These found hip-hop acts joining forces with someone from a completely different genre. The reasoning behind it ranges from wanting to experiment or sometimes for the sake of charity. In this case, the reason was the former. The song comes from the soundtrack for the 1993 movie Judgment Night whose tracklist consists of rock and metal bands collaborating with rappers. Trugoy and Posdnuos rap over a guitar and drums that are a little different from the breaks they are used to and the two of them still slow their flows down a little here. They certainly had fun with it as the last minute or so is just them laughing and goofing off in the booth.

#4 Much More – De La Soul (feat. Yummy)

This song is quite a big deal for two main reasons. The intro has a brief spoken contribution from DJ Premier. The song itself was produced by J Dilla. Both of these people are the epitome of the era De La Soul hails from. The song is an example of them coming together to showcase their roots in traditional hip-hop. The overall tone of the song lines up with this as it has a very triumphant atmosphere – a golden age atmosphere. Featured artist Yummy Bigham is on hook duty here and reinforces the vocal sample J Dilla used. Trugoy and Pos both assert their dominance over other rappers with Trugoy focusing on his mental ability and outlook being superior. Posdnuos closes his verse with some creative imagery about his skill on a mic which is a testament to their era of “rocking the mic” 

#3 Drawn – (feat. Little Dragon)

The feature on this song is a testament to the power of generations working together. Little Dragon is a band from this generation and their listeners may be unfamiliar with an older group like De La Soul – and vice versa. Still, this song shows that these separate audiences can come together simply for the sake of enjoying good music. The gentle piano and Little Dragon’s lead singer Yukimi Nagano’s vocals are what is heard for most of the song. Other instruments drop in and out giving the song a unique feeling. The collaboration comes to the forefront in the song’s bridge where Nagano sings and Posdnuos raps a brief repeated two line piece followed by a verse. This verse offers a bit of vulnerable transparency that fits in well with the atmosphere of the song.

#2 Pain -(feat. Snoop Dogg)

This is a more recent track (2016) from their discography and has been on streaming since it was released. It was a single for their 9th album And The Anonymous Nobody…This one is in the chilled out jazzy lane the trio often finds themselves in. The song’s hook is sung by Lola Troy and has an upbeat motivational feeling to it. Both verses from Posdnuos and Trugoy capitalize on this theme through positive and uplifting verses. Posdnuos chooses to focus on universally uplifting content while Trugoy mentions some of the struggles of everyday life and being able to overcome them. Snoop Dogg’s feature has the same feeling to it as he uses word gymnastics to reflect his confidence and his relaxed flow fits the song excellently. 

#1 Rock Ko. Cane Flow (feat. MF DOOM)

RIP MF DOOM. This song has a semi eerie tone to it due to the vocal sample loop. These background vocals sit between a simple piano melody that fits the eerie atmosphere. Production on this one comes from Jake One, a name many are very familiar with. MF DOOM’s feature includes two verses from him, one after Posdnuos’ first verse and one before his second verse. In a unique delivery decision,  he speeds up his flow to match the drums at the conclusion of the verse. This switch up adds to the intrigue of the song and showcases his skill in syllable usage. The song has no hook and the verses come in one after another in a cypher-esque way. The effective simplicity of the production capitalizes on this feeling. 

Is De La Soul one of your favorite golden age hip-hop groups? Are you excited to see their discography coming to streaming services? Let us know in the comments below.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Up To Lightspeed

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The Mandalorian Season 3 has just dropped on Disney+. Unlike Netflix and other streaming services, Disney offers things in weekly format. This rewards patience and engrosses an audience far longer than the typical binge model.

As a result, the first episode of the Pedro Pascal-starring show arrived on Wednesday. The Mandalorian, Grogu and company were finally back on-screen for the first time since Season 2 ended in December of 2020 and since a few characters were seen at the end of The Book of Boba Fett.

The first episode drew viewers back in but didn’t offer much otherwise. A lot has happened and Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni decided to dedicate this episode to bringing viewers up to (light) speed and setting the plot in motion (spoilers for all episodes of The Mandalorian ahead).

The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 recap

Mando, as he’s affectionately called, is reunited with Grogu. The latter spent two years (as Favreau recently confirmed is the timeline) training with Luke Skywalker before choosing to pursue a Mandalorian lifestyle with Din Djarin.

The iconic duo head back to Nevarro, the same place Greef Karga has been operating in since the beginning. This time, it looks like a respectable planet and Karga is now High Magistrate.

Djarin wants to rebuild the only droid he’s ever trusted- IG-11. The droid that (spoilers) sacrificed himself to save the bounty hunter and Grogu has a statue made out of the remaining parts.

Djarin, who needs to find the cleansing waters of the Mandalorian mines, needs a droid to help him scout the destroyed planet. Even though he’s come a long way, the Mandalorian doesn’t want just any droid.

Episode 1 is familiarly good

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 22: Jon Favreau attends ‘The Forge’ experience inspired by the Star Wars series The Mandalorian, to celebrate the launch of The Mandalorian Season 3. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)

Thus the first plotline of The Mandalorian Season 3 comes into focus. Djarin needs to redeem himself for removing his helmet, the cardinal sin for certain sects of Mandalorians. This can only be done by bathing in the waters of the mines of Mandalore.

To achieve this, he needs a trusty droid, but IG-11’s memory processing unit has been destroyed, making him once again hostile towards Grogu. He can be fixed, but only with a specific part that Djarin and Grogu must find now.

The episode reintroduces Djarin, Grogu, High Magistrate Karga and other key players. It also explains the absence of the fired Gina Carano. Most of the episode is expositional since it’s been a while since Season 2 ended.

Nevertheless, by the end of the episode, The Mandalorian Season 3 has everyone hooked once again.

The Mandalorian Season 3 Episode 1 review

General view of the El Capitan Theatre’s marquee promoting the upcoming season of the Disney+ Star Wars flagship show “The Mandalorian”. (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)

The first episode doesn’t do anything special in relation to other episodes of The Mandalorian. Season 3 begins with the protagonists needing something and going to look for it. This is a familiar plot line from the first two seasons.

What the show does so well is pull viewers in and give them what they want. There are a few excellent action set pieces, including the cold open, that rival any blockbuster movie.

The Mandalorian is so cool and Grogu is so popular that it truly doesn’t matter what they do as long as they’re on screen together.

There are some positively adorable Grogu moments, too. At one point, it appears he’s using the Force to move his chair in circles rapidly. He then uses the Force to pick up and eat a piece of candy.

More growth for Mando and Grogu

The relationship between the two protagonists has grown a lot, too. Djarin is much more fatherly to his adopted son. Looking back at the beginning of the series, there is a warmth between them now in Season 3 that just wasn’t there before.

This season appears poised to jump fully into the lore of Star Wars and of Mandalorians specifically. Bo Katan returns and is seen on Kalevala. This planet is making its live action debut after first being seen in The Clone Wars.

The show has done a tremendous job of slowly bringing fans, many of whom probably weren’t avid Star Wars nerds, into the fandom.

Now, they’re too hooked to care. They may not have heard of Kalevala and they don’t know the intricate lore of the Mandalorian religion. It matters not.

What started out as a very distant Star Wars project (no doubt designed to pander to less interested fans) is turning up the heat now. It doesn’t matter, because this show is too good to skip out on.

The premier of Season 3 of The Mandalorian proves that. It’s pure exposition with a bit of impressive action and it’s done so well that that’s all anyone needs.

The Mandalorian is still the best

There are plenty of Easter eggs and references for hardcore fans, but Filoni and Favreau have masterfully interwoven the intricate aspects of the universe into the most accessible property it’s ever had.

Take a close look at everything in the episode, titled The Apostate and you’ll see just how much is going on. Or don’t, and enjoy the return of television’s favorite duo.

There were probably some doubts as to what the best Disney+ show was and what the best Star Wars show was after Andor came out. Pascal, Favreau and the rest of the crew jumped back into the saddle to remind everyone that there should be no debate.

The next episode will go live on Wednesday, March 8. Be sure to get on Disney+ as soon as it does.

Everyone Pete Davidson Has Dated

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Ever since becoming a key member of Saturday Night Live, Pete Davidson has created a reputation for himself in the industry. He joined the cast in 2014 as one of the youngest members in history at only 20 years old. This was a prime time for not only kickstarting his career, but also his dating life. Davidson quickly found himself with an abundance of opportunities for success as a comedian, giving him the ultimate spotlight.

Pete Davidson has been known for his many girlfriends since his rise to fame. It is easy to speculate that this is due to his unique sense of humor, an attribute that many women look for in a partner’s personality. People tend to claim his appeal is a mystery, with his looks being somewhat of a controversy. Nonetheless, he has been associated with a long list of beautiful women.

2014 – 2015: Carly Aquilino

Carly Aquilino attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards Arrivals. (Photo by Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Long Island comedian Carly Aquilino was reportedly the first woman to be in a relationship with Davidson after his career debut on SNL. She is mainly known for her role in the comedy series Girl Code on MTV. Things never became serious and they ultimately dated for a short period of time. This was his first high-profile relationship and it certainly was not his last.

2016 – 2018: Cazzie David

Cazzie David and Pete Davidson attend the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Season 9 premiere after party. (Photo by Jimi Celeste/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

This name may sounds familiar, and that’s because Cazzie David is the daughter of very famous comedian Larry David. Over the years, David has only starred in a handful of productions including Hannah Montana and the third season of The Umbrella Academy. Their relationship was Pete Davidson’s longest and most serious one. Shockingly, it came out that he broke up with her through text just days prior to her discovering his new relationship (to be discussed next).

2018: Ariana Grande

Pete Davidson (C) and Ariana Grande (R) attend the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

Pete Davidson and Ariana Grande’s relationship is one of his most well-known by far. In May of 2018, their relationship was announced, and the following June they confirmed an engagement. This relationship was surprisingly short and moved ridiculously fast. By October of that year, the engagement had been called off and their exciting fling was over.

Grande has made sure to keep these memories in stone through her music. Her 2018 album Sweetener contains an entire song for him titled “Pete Davidson”. Despite this, he is most famously known for being mentioned in her hit song “Thank U, Next”. This song allowed for fans to witness closure of their relationship as they both moved on to other people.

2019: Kate Beckinsale

Davidson had quite the controversial romance following his dramatic breakup just months before. He and British actress Kate Beckinsale made their red carpet debut at the 2019 Golden Globes. They quickly received harsh criticism for their twenty year age gap, though they appeared unbothered. Their relationship only lasted for a matter of months before his next dating adventure.

2019: Margaret Qualley

Margaret Qualley attends the press conference for “Stars At Noon” during the 75th annual Cannes film festival. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)

Pete Davidson and Margaret Qualley had merely a fling. They were spotted in Venice, Italy in promotion of her film, “Seberg”, allowing the relationship to make its way onto social media. The lovebirds had what seemed to be a good bond, but they ultimately split due to their busy schedules. Qualley and Davidson officially ended their relationship a few short months later that October.

2019 – 2020: Kaia Gerber

Kaia Gerber walks the runway at Celine. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for CELINE)

He soon found himself in another short relationship with model Kaia Gerber from the end of 2019 to January 2020. It had been reported that Gerber found his mental health issues to be too overwhelming. She also decided to end it due to him being too old for her. Their relationship was a brief one, but still posted all over social media at the time.

2021: Phoebe Dynevor

Phoebe Dynevor and Pete Davidson hosted by Lanson attend day 6 of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Bridgerton actress Phoebe Dynevor dated Pete Davidson for about five months before ending their relationship. They tried to maintain a long-distance relationship but it inevitably failed, between the distance and their crazy schedules as two people in the industry. They kept things casual and tried to focus on their work, which turned into a lack of time for one another. The distance between New York and the U.K. was just too far.

2021 – 2022: Kim Kardashian

Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian attend The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”. (Photo by Gotham/Getty Images)

In October 2021, Kim Kardashian hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live while Pete Davidson was still a part of the cast. During this episode they shared an on-screen kiss while playing Jasmine and Aladdin in a Disney sketch, sparking the beginning of their nine-month relationship. This relationship was heavily broadcasted all over the internet, and since she had just split from controversial rapper Kanye West, drama began to uproar rapidly. After being together for nearly nine-months, they officially split and Davidson supposedly got his tattoos for her removed.

2022: Emily Ratajkowski

Emily Ratajkowski wears black squared sunglasses, a black cargo shirt, a black suede cropped jacket from Courreges, outside Courreges, during Paris Fashion Week. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)

During one of his most recent flings, Pete Davidson shared some time with Gone Girl actress Emily Ratajkowski. She had expressed interest for him through social media which quickly led to them starting a relationship, but quickly parted ways. They only dated for the last two months of 2022. She later mentioned on a podcast that he was one of the worst men to date.

2023: Is Pete Davidson dating Ice Spice?

Ice Spice attends the BET Hip Hop Awards 2022. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)

There have been Twitter speculations as of late that Ice Spice and Pete Davidson may be dating. The rumors surrounding this conspiracy have been overtaking the media, and it is still unknown whether or not it may be true. It may have been posted as a joke, but it seems as though fans are digging to find real evidence of their relationship. Rising star Ice Spice might just be Pete Davidson’s next fling.

The Worst Takes Skip Bayless Has Ever Had

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Skip Bayless is known for being controversial. It’s what brought in viewers to First Take and does the same with Undisputed with Shannon Sharpe now. Everyone tunes in to see what kind of nonsense he’ll spout about the latest sports news.

Skip Bayless has 3.2 million Twitter followers (and doesn’t follow anyone at all on the site) and a majority of them aren’t there for his wisdom and advice. Quite the contrary, actually, as many of them are likely there for his wild takes.

Over the years, Bayless has put a lot on Twitter and said a lot on his various platforms. He has bad takes quite often, but here are a few of the most outrageous takes he’s ever had.

Skip Bayless’ Twitter is full of poor takes

How can the NFL cancel the game after Damar Hamlin’s injury?

Bayless took to Twitter amidst the Damar Hamlin injury during the Monday Night Football contest of the NFL’s Week 17. That was his first mistake. It was a sober moment, and one that genuinely didn’t need interrupting from Skip. Nevertheless, he tried it and gave a pretty poor take.

He wondered how the NFL could consider cancelling the game after Hamlin effectively died on the field. Yes, the game was an important one for AFC seeding, but this was a man’s life on the line.

Skip Bayless tried to deftly maneuver the topic and the sensitivity of the situation, but he failed as he often does. What resulted was one of his most insensitive and thoughtless tweets of all time.

Tim Tebow can be A better Player than Cam Newton

This tweet from Bayless regarding Cam Newton and Tim Tebow is an all-timer. The then-ESPN analyst has always been a huge fan of Tebow, but this take aged as poorly as any. Bayless believed that Tebow would have a better career than Newton.

As it turned out, Newton had a far superior career and it’s not even close. Newton may be done playing thanks to injuries now, but Tebow was never even close to as good as he was. The MVP and Super Bowl appearance prove that without even looking at all of Newton’s other excellent seasons.

Newton could be a Hall of Famer one day. Tebow would be lucky to get on a ballot.

Josh Freeman is better than Cam Newton

For a long time, it was clear that Bayless was no fan of Cam Newton’s. Not only did he say Tim Tebow would be better, he also said that about Josh Freeman. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback started three seasons and was out of the NFL after 2015.

Bayless said:

“Long term give me Josh Freeman over Cam. Better leader, more consistent passer, more clutch, more poised under fire, more careful with ball.”

@RealSkipBayless on Twitter

Newton has three Pro Bowl appearances and won an MVP in 2015. Once again, this take could not have aged more poorly.

Johnny Manziel > LeBron James

Skip is a known LeBron James hater, but this take took the hating to another level. Bayless once tweeted that Johnny Manziel, the electric quarterback from Texas A&M, woud have a better career in Cleveland than the NBA’s now-leading scorer, LeBron James.

Manziel flamed out of the NFL and never even looked like he would have a career as a backup. Even though James has left Cleveland twice, it’s safe to say there’s no comparison whatsoever. Manziel barely made an impact on Cleveland and James will never see an athlete replace him in that city.

Von Miller is overrated

Von Miller is probably on his way to the Hall of Fame. At the very least, he can sleep at night with a Super Bowl MVP award and knowing that he was probably the biggest reason the Denver Broncos won Super Bowl 50. He also won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams, so he’s had one fine career.

Rewind back to when he was a young player with the Denver Broncos and see how poorly this Skip Bayless tweet aged. Maybe Miller isn’t Denver’s MVP, but he was in the biggest game of his life, so Bayless once again couldn’t be more wrong.

More Tim Tebow love

Tim Tebow had a mediocre career with the Denver Broncos, which is why they jumped at signing Peyton Manning when he left the Indianapolis Colts. Bayless wasn’t a fan, but he did believe that Tebow could land elsewhere and finally have a real chance to become the NFL superstar the analyst always knew he would be.

Unfortunately, that never happened. Tebow was effectively out of the league after that and Manning went to two Super Bowls with Denver and won one of them on his way out of the league. Manning is a Hall of Famer and Tebow tried to play tight end recently. There’s no comparison at all.

Derek Fisher will outcoach Steve Kerr

Steve Kerr has won Coach of the Year and won three NBA Finals trophies. Derek Fisher is not even an active coach. One might think that there was no question over which coach was better. One would be wrong.

Bayless firmly believed that Fisher would end up being better than Kerr back in 2014. Just two years later, Kerr won that Coach of the Year and proved that Bayless was foolish. Seven years later, Kerr is leading the defending champion Golden State Warriors still, making the tweet look like an all time cold take.

Kerr may have the added benefit of coaching two all-time three-point shooters, but there’s no denying his ability as a coach. Mark Jackson didn’t win a Finals with the same core players.

Brandon Weeden is a star according to Skip Bayless

In 2012, Skip Bayless was convinced that the Cleveland Browns had found their franchise quarterback at long last. Brandon Weeden was their savior, according to the controversial analyst.

“Browns just stole a starting QB: Brandon Weeden. Much better than Tannehill. Will soon beat out Colt, have 6-7 good yrs. TRich AND Weeden!”

@RealSkipBayless on Twitter

Ryan Tannehill hasn’t been an MVP caliber player, but he’s still playing and starting in the NFL. Weeden isn’t and was never a good NFL quarterback. The Browns have truthfully been looking for their franchise quarterback since well before then. Maybe they’ve found it in Deshaun Watson.

Cardale Jones > Dak Prescott

Dak Prescott is potentially about to be extended by the Dallas Cowboys, but he’s at least a Pro Bowl level quarterback. Cowboys superfan Bayless believed that Cardale Jones of Ohio State University would be a better pick.

Lost in all of that is the fact that everyone, perhaps even Bayless, was clamoring over Paxton Lynch, who recently became the only quarterback to be benched in the NFL, CFL, USFL and finally, the XFL.

Skip Bayless’ Twitter is a bit of a cesspool of poor takes. He probably has one awful take per week, but some of them stand out. Which tweets from Skip deserve to be on this list? Let us know in the comments.

Doja Cat’s Funniest Twitter Posts

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America knows and loves Doja Cat as one of the most incredible, talented rap and pop artists in America. Making her debut in 2014 and eventually becoming a viral sensation in 2018 with her song Mooo!, it became known that she wasn’t just an average LA musician. She certainly entertained fans with her Paris Fashion Week look, and she undoubtedly does the same through social media. From clever one-liners to witty comebacks, the 27-year-old soon began to rise as a comedy figure, too.

As soon as she entered the world of Twitter, her tweets rapidly became the face of the platform with her unusual, unpredictable humor. Doja Cat has a knack for turning her thoughts into relatable posts, and has allowed for more people in the music industry to start expressing their humorous side through their own platforms. In a world full of turmoil, some may see it as a breath of fresh air when she tosses the seriousness aside on social media.

Twitter Name Scandal

It was quite an eventful moment in media history when Elon Musk began to make changes to Twitter, leading to nearly everyone tweeting angry posts towards him. Doja Cat did not hold back, using the event as an opportunity to use a very unique display name on her profile. Fans treated this as a meme and it was retweeted all across the platform. While this recent thread may have earned more than a few laughs, this is only the beginning.

Self-Deprecating Humor

Doja Cat is definitely… self-aware. There’s also no doubt that she’s keeping up with the latest trends, despite technically being a millennial. Some fans see this type of content as ‘cringe’, but she always makes sure to clap back at every comment before it even has time to get to her. Haters have stomped on her with far worse accusations, so it is safe to say that she has it all under control.

Not only is this tweet another one of Doja Cat’s funny, unexpected posts, but it also provides fans with so much insight into her personal life. There is truly nothing that avid fans love more than learning about what their favorite artist is like in reality, behind the cameras and the curtains. She’s honest about her flaws, being a ‘pick me’ girl and such, while also admitting more than a handful of guilty pleasures.

Despite being one of the most iconic performers of the past decade, even Doja Cat has the potential to be a bit insecure. Luckily, it seems as though she never lets it hit her too hard. Instead she’ll simply choose to turn it into yet another humorous yet slightly pitiful tweet, and move along to her next inevitably hilarious tweet an hour later.

Just Doja Cat Things

To be clear, fans in the comments seem to have no idea what’s happening behind that phone of hers. She does a fantastic job at posting her thoughts with little to no context, making them all the more laugh-worthy. Doja is such an unpredictable character that this wouldn’t be surprising, but funny nonetheless. She clearly takes hardly anything seriously.

It is truly safe to say that nothing has to make sense when it comes to Doja Cat’s Twitter feed. Every single thought that enters her mind is fair game to post. Sitting on the toilet? Posted. Impulsive urges? Posted. Unleashing swag? That’s right, posted.

It doesn’t matter if anybody knows what this tweet means. The point is she doesn’t care, and she especially doesn’t care if anybody else cares. There is only one thing to note. Doja Cat is unleashing her swag and she’s balling.

Whether it’s clapping back at drama or getting way too excited, Doja is always replying to big brands on Twitter. When DiGiorno posted a reveal of this new item, the food lover could not contain herself. Fans were cracking up at this as usual. It simply gives Twitter users another example of Doja Cat’s surreal and off-beat sense of humor.

Doja Cat’s Twitter has certainly proven strength in her ability to keep fans entertained. Every artist has the right to use their platform uniquely, and she does it flawlessly. Her Twitter page specifically is the perfect place to find light-hearted, thought-provoking, and wild content.

Perhaps everyone scrolling on Twitter should give her the benefit of the doubt. People seem to find many of her Twitter antics to be overly controversial, rude, or unnecessary, although nobody’s forcing them to stay and read. She’s using her platform to spread joy in a world full of hate. These days it is so important to try and use social media as a means of getting laughs rather than creating stress, and she is certainly trying her hand at doing so.

Adele And Rich Paul’s Relationship Timeline

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Adele may have sung about her famous divorce on her latest album, 30, but she is happily dating Rich Paul. Rich Paul is a well-known sports agent who owns a successful agency that represents many NBA stars, including LeBron James. Forbes even called him one of the world’s most powerful sports agents. The two have been together for a while now and have been seen at high-profile events like the most recent Grammys. However, because the singer is such a private person, the world doesn’t really know much about Adele and Rich Paul’s relationship timeline. Nevertheless, despite the private nature of their relationship, there are significant Rich Paul and Adele marriage rumors. 

Adele has even spoken in interviews recently and confessed that she would love to have more children. This, coupled with what seems to be a strong relationship between her and Rich Paul, makes many believe the current engagement rumors or that they may be secretly married. Of course, Adele has one son, Anglo, with her ex Simon Konecki. The pair finalized their divorce in 2021 after separating in 2019. Rich Paul has three kids. 

Before dating Adele, sources say that Rich Paul had a close relationship with Jennifer Meyer. Jennifer is the ex-wife of Tobey Maguire. She is also the daughter of a former NBC Universal Vice Chairman. For the most part, much of Rich Paul’s personal life is unknown, but it seems it is a tad bit more public these days while still retaining privacy. 

Here is Adele and Rich Paul’s relationship timeline. 

When Did Adele And Rich Paul Start Dating?

Rumors began to swirl about Rich Paul and Adele dating after he dropped hints in an interview with The New Yorker. In the interview, he stated that he had been “hanging out” with a major pop star. He clarified that he was single, but many assumed he meant Adele by saying major pop star. The profile with The New Yorker took place in May of 2021. Just a couple of months later, Adele and Rich Paul were seen courtside at an NBA game. At that time, insiders told outlets that they were a couple. 

Adele confirmed the dating rumors with Rich Paul via an Instagram post in September 2021. She posted pictures from a wedding they attended together and used a heart emoji in the caption. Besides becoming Instagram official, the couple also made several appearances together and appeared happy. The singer also spoke about the relationship with Rich Paul to Rolling Stone in November of that year. She called him “incredible” and “open-hearted.” She went on to say that this relationship was her easiest. 

Their Relationship May Not Be Perfect

Adele and Rich Paul attend the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Despite seeming over the moon, there have been rumors that Adele and Rich Paul’s dating life has been far from perfect. Some have even called the relationship between the two “volatile.” According to sources, the two are “different” and experienced a rough patch in early 2022. These rumors really sped up because Adele postponed her Los Vegas residency. At that time, the insiders blamed the cancellation on the rough patch between the couple. There were numerous reports that Adele was not in a good space, and her friends were worried about the singer. 

Now, not only is the rough patch in their dating life seemingly over, but Adele’s Los Vegas residency is in full swing. Unlike other singers with residencies, Adele only performs on the weekends. Her show has received rave reviews, and the singer looks happier. Perhaps the couple just needed time to adjust to being together with Adele in the public eye. Adele was on a break before releasing new music when they first got together. It should also be noted that they got together soon after she finalized her divorce, which means she may still have needed time. 

Are They Engaged

Rich Paul and Adele attend the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Rumors about Rich Paul and Adele being married or engaged have been present since the world discovered they were together. However, the pair has sparked even more discussions recently. This is because Adele has been spotted wearing a new piece of jewelry on her wedding ring finger. The first sighting of the ring was at the 2022 Brit Awards. After that, she appeared on the Graham Norton Show. When asked about being engaged to Rich Paul, Adele said, “If I was, would I ever tell anyone if I was or wasn’t?” More recently, an insider has said Adele and Rich Paul plan to marry sometime this summer. 

Only time will tell if Rich Paul and Adele will soon marry or are already married. However, it is apparent that although they have reportedly struggled, the two are happy together. Some may say it’s too soon to get married after her divorce, but Adele and Rich Paul are both adults with their own lives, which means they know what’s best.