Russ‘s new “Misunderstood” video, the New Jersey rapper is cuffed to a chair in an interrogation room and faces down reporters, an angry mob, a ticked-off girlfriend, and ultimately, himself. It’s a powerful visual reflection of the rapper-singer’s internal struggle on the song itself. “You only see pieces that fit your view of me,” he croons on the chorus. “Your mind is made up, my hands are tied / Misunderstood time after time.”
He’s got a decent reason to feel that way after much of his early career was marked by a perception in rap fandom that he’s an egotistical spoilsport. In reality, the truth is much more nuanced, and over time, he’s learned to slow down on the sweeping judgments and let his work — and his bank account — do the talking.
Case in point, in a recent interview, he explained why his career is “pandemic-proof” instead of berating other rappers for not handling their business, and on his Chomp EP last year, he held his own alongside some of rap’s top-tier talent, including Black Thought and Kxng Crooked, then showed off his commercial appeal on tracks with Lil Baby, Kehlani, Trippie Redd, and more, proving a little “patience” might have been all he needed all along.
Solange’s latest album, When I Get Home, was a surprise release in 2019, and what fans also didn’t expect was the film that accompanied it. Now, the film has been given a new coat of paint in celebration of its two-year anniversary, as Solange is shared a remastered director’s cut of it via The Criterion Channel.
The Criterion Channel describes the film, “Accompanying her acclaimed 2019 album of the same name, the film taps imagery of her hometown’s (Houston, TX) culture with flights of surrealism spotlighting Black cowboys, space, futurist worlds, and ritualistic movements that characterize evolution as a recurring presence. Solange explores concepts of origin, fear, safety, and reclamation through the power of ancestral roots and the creation of one’s own kaleidoscopic universe.” It’s not clear how or if this version of When I Get Home differs from the director’s cut that was released in 2019 aside from having been remastered.
When Solange initially announced the album, she was feeling amped up, tweeting, “Y’all! I’m filled w so much joy right now!!! Wow! I can’t thank y’all enough for this moment and for all the feelings i feel in my body! I’m bringing home w me everywhere I go yalll and I ain’t running from sh*t no more. Your love lifts me up so high. Thank you!”
Y’all! I’m filled w so much joy right now!!! Wow! I can’t thank y’all enough for this moment and for all the feelings i feel in my body! I’m bringing home w me everywhere I go yalll and I ain’t running from shit no more. Your love lifts me up so high. Thank you!
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 our favorite vinyl releases of February below.
The National — The National, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers, and Cherry Tree EP (Reissue)
4AD
It’s been 20 years since The National started their career with their self-titled debut album in 2001, then followed it with Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers and the Cherry Tree EP. Now, all three of those releases have gotten fresh remasters, and limited colored editions are available just for members of the band’s Cherry Tree fan club. For everybody else, the black vinyl editions still look pretty slick.
Sleepless In Seattle Original Soundtrack (Reissue)
Real Gone Music
Sleepless In Seattle was an iconic romantic comedy of its era, but aside from that, it had a killer soundtrack as well (which actually tore up the charts). It features songs from Céline Dion, Carly Simon, Tammy Wynette, Louis Armstrong, Nat “King” Cole, and others, and appropriately, this edition (limited to 1,500 copies) was released on red vinyl for Valentine’s Day.
Baker recently explained to Uproxx how her new album feels like a boundary-breaking one for her, even if it isn’t: “It’s actually not that extreme, it just feels extreme for me. I’m like, ‘Drum machines, wow.’ I’m slow to change, I’m slow to changing who I am as a person. It takes me a while to adjust to stuff. So, I thought of this as a weird record.”
PJ Harvey — Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea and Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea — Demos (Reissues)
UMe/Island
PJ Harvey has been a staple of this monthly round-up lately, as she is in the midst of a series of rereleases from throughout her career. This month saw a new edition of 2000’s Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea, one of the most commercially successful albums of her career. Like previous reissues, this one also comes with a collection of previously unreleased demos.
Get Stories From The City, Stories From The Seahere. Get Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea — Demoshere.
J Dilla — Welcome 2 Detroit — The 20th Anniversary Edition
BBE Music
J Dilla is one of the most beloved producers in hip-hop history, and now the release that started it all, Welcome 2 Detroit, is the subject of a new limited edition 20th anniversary box set. Aside from the album itself, the release also features previously unreleased outtakes, liner notes, interviews, and previously unpublished photos, making it a definitive edition of a classic.
This new edition of John Coltrane’s legendary 1961 album Lush Life — which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year — was carefully remastered from the original analog tapes. Additionally, this is the first release in Craft Recordings’ new “Small Batch” series, each item in which will be individually numbered and come in “a foil-stamped, linen-wrapped slipcase featuring an acrylic inset of the original artwork,” as well as “a reproduction of the original album jacket, complete with tip-on jacket, and protected by an archival-quality, anti-static, non-scratching inner sleeve.”
The Strokes’ stunning debut album Is This It was a tough act to follow, but they did just fine with Room On Fire, which also earned the group critical acclaim. Now the album has gotten a shiny new Vinyl Me, Please reissue, for which the album was remastered and presented with an exclusive art print.
The Band — Stage Fright (50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition)
Capitol/UMe
Capitol and UMe are going all out to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stage Fright, the third album from The Band. They’re reissuing it in multiple formats, the most expansive of which is the Super Deluxe Edition, which includes two CDs, a Blu-ray, an LP, and a 7-inch vinyl. Spread across those products are unreleased recordings, a 5.1 surround mix of the album, a photo booklet, and much more.
Danny L Harle went full concept on his new album, Harlecore, which presents a futuristic vision of a club (a club feeling like something that’s definitely futuristic at the moment). Digging through the album’s credits will reveal that it features contributions from Caroline Polachek, Hudson Mohawke, Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry and Martin Doherty, Eyelar, and Hannah Diamond.
Of how it felt to finally release the new Foo Fighters album, Taylor Hawkins said, “[It feels] like taking a big huge sh*t. My stomach’s been hurting for a long time. Finally! A collective sigh of relief. We’ve finally got over our constipation.” What’s not sh*tty is the limited edition purple smoke vinyl edition of the album. While that is unfortunately sold out, there’s nothing wrong with the classic black vinyl edition that is still available.
Vinyl Me, Please has historically let members choose between three categories for their monthly album: classics, essentials, and hip-hop. Now, starting in March, they’ve added a new vertical: country. They got a heck of a release to kick things off, too, as their first VMP Country Record Of The Month is Johnny Cash’s At Folsom Prison. The vinyl proved to be popular, as it’s currently sold out, although there is the option to get on a standby list and get the chance to secure a copy in the future. The lesson: Get on board early because VMP is really bringing it with their new country offerings.
Jack Harlow is about to be all over America’s televisions in the month of March. Not only will he be participating in the NBA’s All-Star Weekend coverage, playing in a 2×2 with 2 Chainz, Lil Baby, and Quavo, but he’s also ending the month with a performance as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, March 27. The episode will be hosted by none other than SNL alum, Maya Rudolph, who currently voices the hilarious hormone monster Connie on Big Mouth, as well as Betty Hart on Fox’s Bless The Harts.
Harlow posted a heartfelt message to Twitter with a screenshot of his post-it from the announcement wall, sharing exactly what it meant to him to perform on the show. “I grew up watching SNL with my family every weekend,” he recalled. “I vividly remember seeing Kanye perform ‘Love Lockdown’ and ‘Heartless’ in 2008. Thank you for making this happen. Another dream come true.”
Saturday Night Live. March 27th.
I grew up watching SNL with my family every weekend. I vividly remember seeing Kanye perform Love Lockdown and Heartless in 2008. Thank you for making this happen. Another dream come true. pic.twitter.com/kafxiNa6bx
Last summer, I wrote a piece about rappers who moonlight as amateur basketball players based on their Instagram posts showcasing their workouts. When I interview Louisville, Kentucky upstart Jack Harlow about his upcoming B/R Open Run showdown with fellow rap ballers 2 Chainz, Lil Baby, and Quavo, I blame Jack’s absence from that list on the dearth of hoops-related content on his Instagram page.
Save for a post promoting the song celebrating his fellow cultural outsider, “Tyler Herro,” Jack doesn’t like to advertise his roundball prowess, despite hailing from one of the sport’s legendary basketball loci. In fact, one of the few posts depicting Harlow actually playing basketball is the oldest one on his page, a grainy photo from spring 2014 of Jack defending a brawny player in what looks to be a local gym. Despite his opponent’s choice of athletic apparel — it looks very much like he’s playing basketball in jeans — Jack is the one who looks out of place, with his curly hair, baggy gym clothes, glasses, and yes, because of that glaringly obvious difference between the two men. It’s one Jack isn’t shy about pointing out, either in his music or his interviews — again, see “Tyler Herro.”
He tells me the story behind the photo as we discuss his next upcoming hoops project. The Bleacher Report event will take place during TNT’s NBA All-Star pregame coverage airing Sunday, March 7 at 5 pm ET. Harlow and fellow rap-hooper Quavo will play a game of 2-on-2 against 2 Chainz and Lil Baby — first to 21 wins. The winners will choose an HBCU to receive a donation, while the broadcast will be hosted by Taylor Rooks and DJed by LVRN DJ Kitty Cash.
During our interview, Harlow accuses me of being biased for the other team, but like everyone watching Sunday, I’m just rooting for a good game. I also find out he’s never seen White Men Can’t Jump, what he brings to the court, and whether he and Quavo have a strategy for beating the 6’7 2 Chainz.
How did this partnership come about? Why did you want to participate in this two-on-two with Quavo, 2 Chainz, Lil Baby, and Bleacher Report?
You know I’m a basketball guy, so anything involving basketball I at least keep an ear open to, and I heard there was some money involved and I like money. So there’s a few incentives.
As far as how the teams are broken up, what made you want Quavo as opposed to one of the other guys?
Well, I didn’t choose my teammate, but I got to say, I’m very happy with who I got [Ed. note: Quavo has been NBA Celebrity Game MVP]. Out of the three other players, that would be my number one choice because he brings something to the game, based on everything I’ve seen on YouTube, that I don’t bring to the game. He’s a shooter, he seemed like a ball handler. I like his confidence on the court and I think I’m going to be complimenting him perfectly with my game and some of my grit. And I’m going to let him cut.
What would you say you bring to the team?
Grit, determination, anger, passion.
I feel like these are all euphemisms for you’re going to play hard and try to D-Up. Is that what’s happening?
They’re euphemisms for we’re going to win.
I don’t know if you’re an Uproxx reader, but last summer I did a listicle about rappers who play ball, but I based them off entirely on Instagram.
I noticed I was left out of that.
When I was researching, I kicked myself because I was like, “Oh Jack Harlow’s not on here.” Then I realized you don’t have anything on your Instagram about hoops, except for one thing. I scrolled all the way back to the very beginning, the very first picture is you and some guy, he’s playing in jeans. I need to know this story. I feel like the world needs to know this story.
That’s a classic image. Yeah, I think that might be my first picture on my IG. I used to go up to this community center where I’m from called Douglas Community Center. It’s in the highlands of Louisville, Kentucky. And it was kind of a place where everyone would meet after school, people from all over the city. It was just a good place to play because it was a gym that was open every day. You can’t get that everywhere. And this dude that was in the picture with me, started showing up and I think he had six, seven, eight years on all of us; we were all in high school, sophomores, juniors. And he would just come and destroy high schoolers, myself included. But he made me better because of it. I can’t even remember his name, but he was dominant.
He played in jeans, he had to be. You are not necessarily the typical person that you would look and be like, “Oh, he plays ball and he raps,” which is obviously something you reference on “Tyler Herro.” How often do you get called Billy Hoyle?
Literally not one time in my life.
Never?
I’d never heard that name.
I am so upset. I get called every light-skinned basketball player in the world, and you don’t get Billy Hoyle. Have you seen White Men Can’t Jump?
No. That’s one of the movies that the entire culture grills me for not having seen. And I’m doing my best man, I’ve seen Boyz N The Hood, I’ve watched all these movies, man. I can’t see them all.
You can, we’re in a pandemic. You have nothing better to do.
I need to see White Men Can’t Jump, just for the title alone.
Is that the name of the white guy in the movie?
His name is Billy Hoyle. It was Woody Harrelson. He’s actually a killer. He’s a sharpshooter from beyond the line. I think he might actually be part of where that “white boys are shooters” stereotype comes from. Have you ever played with any of these guys before?
The four we’re playing with? No, I’ve just studied their game.
Do you have a strategy?
I’ve watched the film. You strike me as a 2 Chainz fan, man.
I strike you as a 2 Chainz fan?
Yeah. You don’t have to tell me, brother. I just tried to figure out why you’re going for 2 Chainz and Lil Baby.
I’m not going for 2 Chainz and Lil Baby. I’m asking you if you have a strategy. I got to do my journalistic due diligence. What would you say is the most surprising thing about the leap that you’ve made over that period of time from Confetti to That’s What They All Say?
I haven’t been surprised yet.
Okay, I like that. That’s confidence right there.
I wish I could give you an answer, bro. I wish I could give you an answer.
What’s next for you, man? You’ve got your all-star thing. You’re doing basketball. What’s next on the music front?
I’m about to take over this whole sh*t, man. I got a lot of good music in the can, but I’m going to let my album cook for awhile. We got some videos to drop. We just going to keep doing this. The next time we talk, there’s going to be great things that have happened.
The next time we talk I’m going to ask you one question. It’s going to be, “Have you seen it yet?” And I better hear a yes.
Next time we talk, what you need to do is ask me how that million felt.
Watch B/R Open Run on Sunday, March 7 at 5 pm ET on TNT.
Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
It was around mid-March of 2020 that the first shelter-in-place orders were issued in the United States. That was almost a year ago now, and the future of the live music industry is still uncertain. LiveNation seems to think, though, that they will be able to host large, mostly full concerts this summer.
CEO Michael Rapino said during Live Nation’s Q4 2020 earnings call last week that “a clear outline to a 75 percent to 100 percent” is likely to go forward, noting that 75-plus-percent capacity shows in large US markets are “within sight.” He also noted, “We might have certain states that might not be ready, but we have enough states and enough artists willing to play the open slots if we get to that level in the right markets. So as long as these states open up to the right capacities, we can start in midsummer and in the southern US we can go all the way into November.”
As for shows at a lower capacity, that doesn’t seem to be in LiveNation’s plans, as Rapino said, “[We] have not, to date, done a lot of work in the 0-percent to 50-percent capacity business. We don’t see that as a viable model to ramp back up [considering the] fixed cost.”
This news comes just about a week after Boston Calling decided to cancel its event this year for the second year in a row, so it remains to be seen if other events will follow suit or if LiveNation’s optimism is shared by others.
Atlanta trap rap godfather T.I. and his wife Tiny are being accused of multiple accounts of sexual assault, according to the New York Times, which reports that a lawyer has reached out to law enforcement in two states, urging authorities to pursue criminal charges. Although rumors about the couple’s alleged abuse have circulated for weeks on social media, criminal charges have yet to be filed.
Tyrone A. Blackburn, a lawyer representing 11 people who claim to have been victimized by the couple or their entourage, sent letters to state and federal prosecutors in California and Georgia on February 19, where the assaults allegedly took place. Four women accuse T.I. and Tiny of drugging and sexually assaulting them. The letter describes an “eerily similar” pattern in which multiple women, who do not know each other, allege “sexual abuse, forced ingestion of illegal narcotics, kidnapping, terroristic threats and false imprisonment” by the celebrity couple.
However, a lawyer for T.I. and Tiny dismissed the allegations, calling them “nothing more than the continuation of a sordid shakedown campaign that began on social media and now attempts to manipulate the press and misuse the justice system.”
Further complicating the issue is that many of the incidents described are either approaching or past the statutes of limitation in those states; Blackburn says the women feared coming forward previously because of T.I.’s fearsome reputation and past gun convictions.
The charges first emerged on social media several weeks ago, as first one woman, then others posted to Instagram and Twitter sharing their claims of abuse by T.I. and Tiny. Although T.I. refuted the allegations in his own video, accounts like The Shade Room magnified the accusations, prompting MTV Entertainment to postpone production of the VH1 show T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle.
The Times reports speaking with several of the women, who described their experiences in further detail here.
Keeping track of all the new albums coming out in a given month is a big job, but we’re up for it: Below is a comprehensive list of the major releases you can look forward to in March. If you’re not trying to potentially miss out on anything, it might be a good idea to keep reading.
Friday, March 5
A Day To Remember — You’re Welcome (Fueled By Ramen)
Adult Mom — Driver (Epitaph Records)
Alex Bleeker — Heaven On The Faultline (Night Bloom Records)
The Anchoress — The Art Of Losing (Kscope)
Andrew Bird and Jimbo Mathus — These 13 (Thirty Tigers)
Arab Strap — As Days Get Dark (Rock Action/Best & Fairest)
Barbarossa — Love Here Listen (Memphis Industries)
Bernice — Eau De Bonjourno (Telephone Explosion)
Charles Ellsworth — Honeysuckle Summer (Burro Borracho Records)
Charlie Peacock — Trout Creek Ranch (Twenty Ten Music)
Chevelle — NIRATIAS (Epic Records)
Daniel Kehoe — Disco Body Buzz (Tin Angel)
Decent Criminal — DC EP (Sell The Heart Records)
Denzel Curry and Kenny Beats — Unlocked 1.5 EP (Loma Vista)
Dodie — Build A Problem (The Orchard)
Dreamshade — A Pale Blue Dot (Horang Music)
The Drive — Can You Feel It (RCA)
Elizabeth And The Catapult — Sincerely, E (Compass Records)
Field Works — Cedars (Rollercoaster Records)
Fruit Bats — The Pet Parade (Merge Records)
Gabrielle — Do It Again (BMG)
Genesis Owusu — Smiling With No Teeth (Ourness)
G.S. Schray — The Changing Account (Last Resort)
The Horrors — Lout EP (Wolf Tone)
Ian Sweet — Show Me How You Disappear (Polyvinyl)
Jay Gonzalez — Back To The Hive (Middlebrow Records)
Jaz Elise — The Golden Hour EP (In.Digg.Nation Collective)
Jessy Rose — Are You Home? EP (Killing A Friend)
John-Robert — Healthy Baby Boy, Part 1 (Nice Life Recording Company/Warner Records)
John Sharkey III — Shoot Out The Cameras (Mistletone Records)
Judith Hill — Baby, I’m Hollywood (Regime Music Group)
Juliet Quick — Glass Years EP (Substitute Scene Records)
Kings Of Leon — When You See Yourself (RCA Records)
Leon III — Antlers In Velvet (Monosonic)
Mere Women — Romantic Notions (Poison City)
Oliver Jean And April March — Palladium EP (Third Man Records)
Painted Shrines — Heaven And Holy (Woodsist)
Pat Metheny — Road To The Sun (Modern Recordings)
Quintin Copper & Nas Mellow — Paradise (Sonar Kollektiv)
Soul Station — Now And Then (UMe)
Postdata — Twin Flames (Paper Bag Records)
Ron Gallo — Peacemeal (New West Records)
The Spill Canvas — Conduit (Pure Noise Records)
Spirit Award — Lunatic House (Share It Music)
Steve Almaas — Everywhere You’ve Been (Lonesome Whippoorwill)
Thirdface — Do It With A Smile (Exploding In Sound Records)
Thomas Blondet & Steven Rubin — Sea Songs EP (Rhythm & Culture Music)
Tigers Jaw — I Won’t Care How You Remember Me (Hopeless Records)
Various Artists — Coming 2 America (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Def Jam Recordings)
William The Conqueror — Maverick Thinker (Chrysalis Records)
Zara Larsson — Poster Girl (Epic Records)
Friday, March 12
Allie Crow Buckley — Moonlit And Devious (Night Bloom Records)
Baby Boys — Threesome (Transgressive Records)
Blackmore’s Night — Nature’s Light (earMUSIC)
Cactus Flowers — Solace EP (People.Parties.Places)
Cameron Knowler & Eli Winter — Anticipation (American Dreams Records)
Charles Lloyd & The Marvels — Tone Poem (Blue Note Records)
Chez Kane — Chez Kane (Frontiers Music)
Colin Miller — Hook EP (Oof Records)
Cool Ghouls — At George’s Zoo (Melodic/Empty Cellar)
DeeCRACKS — Serious Issues (uhfrecords)
Dollar Signs — Hearts Of Gold (Pure Noise Records)
Do Nothing — Glueland EP (Exact Truth)
Electric Jalaba — El Hal / The Feeling (Strut Records)
The late, great Nipsey Hussle’s influence is undeniable. Not only did he leave a mark locally before his death in 2019, but he also continues to have a massive impact on pop culture after it. While he continues to receive reverent tributes from friends and admirers like LeBron James and Barrack Obama, his name also occasionally pops up in unusual circumstances — even for a self-made mogul whose funeral procession shut down the city of Los Angeles and whose memorial service filled the Staples Center.
Daniel Kaluuya, one of the stars of the thriller Judas And The Black Messiah, shouted out Nipsey Hussle during his acceptance speech at last night’s virtual Golden Globes ceremony. After winning Best Supporting Actor for his role as Black Panther Illinois chapter chairman Fred Hampton, Kaluuya quoted Nipsey, explaining how Nip’s worldview shaped his superb performance. “I gave everything,” he said. “Like the great Nipsey Hussle says, we’re here to give until we’re empty.”
Nipsey also appears on the film’s companion album alongside a slew of hip-hop all-stars, including Jay-Z, with whom Nipsey shared their first-ever collaboration, “What It Feels Like.”
Watch Daniel Kaluuya’s acceptance speech above.
Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Like many of us, Cardi B is a big Lizzo fan, as she has expressed on multiple occasions. She did so again over the weekend, which actually led to a bit of an annoying moment for Cardi.
Yesterday, Cardi tweeted a diverse gallery of Lizzo photos and wrote, “These pics do it for me.” Naturally, as tends to happen when one artist shouts out another, fans were quick to flood Cardi’s notifications with requests/demands that she and Lizzo collaborate. One person replied, “now drop that collab with her,” to which Cardi responded, “Can I do a song first thst I can put her on.” Somebody responded to that tweet, “YESSS WE WANT A COLLAB,” and Cardi answered, “Ok but stop pressuring me to do stuff .I can’t even show love to people with 100 collab collab collab.”
A handful of months ago, Cardi revealed that she actually tried to get Lizzo involved with her “WAP” video, but unfortunately, she was unable to take part due to a scheduling conflict. She also called Lizzo “the [nicest] person in the world” after she received flowers from her amid her divorce.
Cardi B and Lizzo are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
