No one thinks highly of police officers when they’re sitting handcuffed in the back of a cruiser, but for the Miami officer who arrested Polo G for assault in 2021, his experience was a hardcore exercise in patience considering the eloquence involved when the detainee happens to be a world-class rapper. Recently, body cam footage from the aftermath of the arrest surfaced online, revealing that Polo gave the dressing down of a lifetime to the officer, questioning all the life choices that led him to pursue his present career path.
“I’m just sayin’, do you got $10,000 in your bank account right now?” Polo inquests. “‘Cause if you die right now, what could you give your kids? If you die right now, what could you give the lady that you in bed with? What could you give to your mama? Have you ever bought yo mama anything? Did you buy yo mama a car? Did you buy yo mama a house? I did that.” The officer humbly replies, “Good for you, bro. I’m glad you did that… I would love to do that one day.” In his own fiery response, Polo posits that it’s unlikely as a police officer — something Polo seems very disdainful about.
Fortunately for the Chicago rapper, a pair of felony charges were dropped shortly after the incident, and the remaining misdemeanors were dropped earlier this year after he completed an anger management course. Hopefully, he can avoid any future run-ins with the police, but woe be unto any officers thinking they can flex on this rapper — they might end up being on the receiving end of one anti-motivational speech.
A big lesson when it comes to attending concerts is that music lovers are prone to breaking out into violence, whether the performers are delivering the grittiest of raps or the most soothing soul ballads. Now, when fights occur on the floor area where there aren’t any seats and it is a battle for space, it makes sense to an extent. However, in the case of Erykah Badu’s most recent concert where a scuffle broke out in the stands, there are more questions as to how it could have got to that point.
In a Twitter clip posted today (July 8), Badu can be seen on stage taking a drink before asking the concertgoers if they are doing alright. Hilariously, the camera then pans to the stands where multiple women can be seen throwing blows and attempting to remove clothing while one even straddles her opponent as someone yells, “Oh my god!”
It definitely gives off two-on-one handicap match vibes a la WWE, but thankfully bystanders stepped in to break it up. All the while, the 51-year-old continues performing her classic record “Window Seat.” It is unclear whether Badu was aware of what was going on or not, but if any music can heal the vengeful spirits of said fighters, it is hers.
Cordae may have decided that his most recent album, From A Bird’s Eye View, doesn’t quite measure up to his debut, The Lost Boy, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to push the new album in new and unexpected directions. The latest is a live, visual version of From A Bird’s Eye View that will include live versions of the album’s standouts “C Carter,” “Chronicles,” “Sinister,” and “Super.” The live version of the album is available now, exclusively on Facebook. You can check it out here.
In addition to promoting From A Bird’s Eye View, Cordae has been busy on other projects, including launching his label, Hi-Level Productions, and explaining his Hi-Level philosophy in an insightful TED Talk. Musically, he recently collaborated with North Carolinian rap crooner Morray on “Still Here,” and is preparing for the European leg of his From A Bird’s Eye View Tour, which will include dates in Amsterdam, Belfast, Dublin, London, Manchester, Paris, Stockholm, and more. You can see the dates for that below.
09/27 — Belfast, UK @ Limelight
09/28 — Dublin, Ireland @ The Academy
09/30 — Manchester, UK @ Academy 2
10/01 — Birmingham, UK @ Institute 2
10/02 — London, UK @ Electric Brixton
10//05 — Brussels, Belgium @ Botanique Orangerie
10/06 — Paris, France @ Elysse Monmarte
10/07 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg (The Max)
10/09 — Cologne, Germany @ Carlswerk Victoria
10/11 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Lille Vega
10/13 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Klubben
10/14 — Oslo, Norway @ Vulkan
10/17 — Berlin, Germany @ Astra
10/18 — Vienna, Austria @ Flex
10/19 — Zurich, Switzerland @ Dynamo
Cordae is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
The Weeknd is kicking off hisAfter Hours Til Dawn Tourtonight to the tune of a sold out show at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. Selling out a 55,000 capacity show in his hometown stadium is a full circle moment for The Weeknd and the magnitude of it all was definitely lost on Drake, one of his earliest supporters. In a video posted to his Instagram Stories, Drake, who just released his latest album,Honestly, Nevermind last month, fawns over hearing The Weeknd for the first time in the driveway of his old Toronto apartment and he was all in his feels about it.
“Ok, look… This right here, this little driveway area right here, this is the first place that I ever heard the Weeknd’s music, right here,” Drake says in the clip, moving the camera over to show the area. He’s borderline gushing and maybe a little emotional from a night out.
He shouts out Oliver El-Khatib (“my brother, of course”) for playing him The Weeknd back then, before continuing with his thought: “This is my old building, in Toronto. We were parked out here, and it was raining. Right here. And that same guy selling out SkyDome tomorrow night… not the Rogers Centre. ‘Cause we just still call it the SkyDome. That man is selling out the SkyDome tomorrow. So I just want anybody that’s trying to do this sh*t to understand… Like, I heard this man’s music right here for the first time. Pouring rain. It’s a great life.”
You have to appreciate not only Drake’s pure love for The Weeknd, but also his commitment to still calling the Rogers Centre the SkyDome, even though the name changed back in 2005. Regardless, Suffice it to say that Drake will be cheering Abel along on stage like an NBA bench-warmer tonight.
Over the past few months, four-man hip-hop band Coast Contra has slowly but surely seen its profile rise thanks to a string of viral freestyle videos that see the quartet sitting around a table in their studio trading bars to underground rap faves like Mobb Deep’s “Give Up The Goods,” Nas’ “Speechless,” and JID’s “Never.” Their increased notoriety landed them a performance slot on The Tonight Show last month, their debut television performance, and today, they’ve received what might be their biggest look yet as pop-R&B icon Ciara recruits them to appear on her new single “Jump.”
One of the group’s claims to fame is the raucous, upbeat energy of their back-and-forth rhymes, which harkens back to the unified flows of groups like The Furious Five, Jurassic 5, and more recently, Brockhampton. Their synchronization evokes the lock-step tightness of Ciara’s backup dancers performing the intricate choreography of hits like “Goodies,” “Dose,” or “Melanin.” And while “Jump” isn’t the best showcase for Coast Contra’s sometimes dizzying lyricism, it does showcase their tight-knight chemistry and gives a whole new audience a taste of their unique style — perhaps enough to inspire some more listening and convert a whole new fanbase.
The RX is Uproxx Music’s stamp of approval for the best albums, songs, and music stories throughout the year. Inclusion in this category is the highest distinction we can bestow and signals the most important music being released throughout the year. The RX is the music you need, right now.
Life as Brent Faiyaz knew it changed by the time summer arrived in 2017. His guest appearance on GoldLink’s “Crew” with Shy Glizzy, which dropped in December 2016, shot him into the spotlight thanks to the perfect hook he provided for the song. While that record is certainly the most impactful towards his upward trajectory, there’s another one that came out two months prior that best speaks to the man we hear today. Sonder, Brent Faiyaz’s group with producers Dpat and Atu, released a record called “Too Fast” which Brent uses to respond to those who “say I drive too fast, move too fast, live too fast.” Little did we know this line would foreshadow Brent’s demise a half-decade later.
Brent Faiyaz’s sophomore album, Wasteland, expands on the message from “Too Fast.” Throughout the album’s 19 songs, which include features from big names like Tyler The Creator, Drake, and Alicia Keys as well as fellow Marylanders Joony and Tre’Amani, an all-gas-no-breaks lifestyle is not the only thing that Brent defends. He also critiques the “toxic” label that’s been placed on him, especially after the 2020 release of his F*ck The World EP. “That’s the Internet word that people like to attach to sh*t” and “So if you sing some real sh*t, like what’s toxic? What’s real?” he says to open Wasteland on “Villian’s Theme.” For Brent, his songs detail a very real lifestyle that isn’t some false persona or game of pretend to play into a trend. Brent isn’t being anything, he just is it, and to him, there’s a difference between the two.
As the non-linear and cluttered conversation on “Villian’s Theme” concludes, in comes the intimidating strikes of a violin on “Loose Change.” The first official record of the album is one Brent uses to pour out his complaints about fame like water from a bucket. The ladies complain too much for more of his time and the men are clout chasing and/or trying to knock him off his throne. Following the monetary theme at hand, “Price Of Fame,” finds Brent once again fighting for peace in the spotlight. “They just wanna take me off of here,” he quips on the song before letting us know that fame, glitz, glam, people screaming your name, and the demands “isn’t everything.” In other instances on the album, like on “Gravity,” “Wasting Time,” and momentarily on “Addictions,” Brent appears worn out and exhausted by the requirements of those in his world. For what it’s worth, more times than not, he’s only asked for the bare minimum – especially from women – and it’s for this reason that there’s a better word than toxic to describe the 26-year-old singer.
In all reality, Brent is more selfish than toxic, that’s seemingly the message on Wasteland. Sure, each share qualities that intersect, but I’d argue that the latter better represents the Maryland native. It’s selfishness that leads to him making a red carpet appearance with his side chick on “Oblivion” moments after his baby mother expresses her frustrations towards feeling lonely and uncared for on “Egomaniac.” It’s selfishness that sees Brent check in with nonchalance for a woman and her seemingly unfounded complaints on “Ghetto Gatsby.” “I can’t buy you happiness if you ain’t got it,” he sings. “Move you to a place, still ain’t what you wanted.” Notably, just two songs later comes “Wasting Time,” the Drake-featured track that arrives as an ode to a minimalistic and unbothered relationship, one that brings a twinkle to the eye of Brent.
In a way, it’s a good thing that Brent is very front-facing about his desires; that way you know exactly what you’re getting into with him. He isn’t controlling, he tells you to do as you please on “Dead Man Walking.” He wants you to view the world as he does as he proudly flexes his approaches and offers to teach them on the foot-stomping “Role Model.” Even in his most love-driven moments, your disappointment about his true personality isn’t something he can fix as noted on “Heal Your Heart.” Brent is a rockstar, matter of fact, he’s a “Rolling Stone” as he coolly reminds us. On that song, he sings, “I’m sorry in advance if I let you down,” with enough sincerity and sympathy that you almost believe he’s genuinely apologetic. But as we know, it’s nonchalance towards others hurt by a lifestyle he loves that takes precedent. The real Brent arrives a few lines earlier. “I’m a rolling stone,” he declares. “I’m too wild for you to own / In a whip that’s meant to speed.”
While he’s not opposed to settling down, Brent is opposed to slowing down. He told us there was no such thing as too fast, but as we hear at the end of “Wake Up Call,” that’s not totally true. He realizes this as his car tumbles to destruction as he rushes to try and save his pregnant baby mother from a suicide attempt. During the last seconds of Brent’s frantic phone call with her, she bluntly says, “No, you can’t always get what you want.” He once said F*ck The World, and while he was completely in his right to say that, the world now returns the insult. The thing is, the world – this chaotic Wasteland that Brent finds himself in – is through his own creation. “Life moves fast when you do what you want,” he sings on “Jackie Brown.” What he soon learns through this album’s well-crafted, dark, and vivid records is that the fast life is oftentimes a death race rather than a carefree cruise through the city.
Wasteland is out now via Lost Kids LLC. You can stream it here.
Over the past couple of years, it seems like Tyga has been on an ongoing quest to become the most popular ese in East LA. First, he popped up on YG’s “Go Loko” in 2019, and it seems he enjoyed the mariachi vibes so much, he kept going, following up with “Mamacita” (which also featured YG as well as the legend himself, Carlos Santana), then “Ayy Macarena” (featuring the duo responsible for the original monster hit, Los Del Rio), and now, he keeps the Latin party going with “Ay Caramba.” His latest Spanglish-accented single is accompanied by a video that can only truly be described as “ridiculous” — but in the best way.
Tyga in a fat suit? Check. Tyga with a foot-long mustache? Check. Tyga as a freaking luchador? Check. This video has it all. Tyga really leans into Mexican pop culture archetypes and looks very much like he’s having the time of his life doing so. It’s nice when rappers don’t take themselves so seriously. Tyga’s rhymes on the track, though, let you know that he hasn’t given himself completely to self-parody. Among the things prompting Bart Simpson’s signature exclamation throughout the song: a “big ol’ Glock on the hip,” a woman who “remind me of Tabasco,” and his Porsche when he “press on the turbo.”
Although he’s flown under the radar for a while now, the Compton-claiming rapper has become a pretty reliable supplier of worthwhile party raps, including “Run” with YG and BIA, “Freaky Deaky” with Doja Cat, and “Mrs. Bubblegum,” which has its own hilariously tongue-in-cheek video.
Yesterday, the rapper was denied bond again when he appeared at his virtual court date. According to 11Alive, Gunna will remain in jail until the early 2023 trial date. The judge argued that Gunna poses a threat and could intimidate potential witnesses.
In addition to the initial two charges against Thug, seven more were added as a result of a raid at his home in Buckhead; those charges include possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute, possession of illegal firearms, and participation in criminal gang activity. According to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, YSL is considered a “hybrid criminal gang,” with both the label and the wider association around it tied to the Bloods. Some observers have also disputed the use of their lyrics as evidence to tie them to a larger conspiracy.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
When it comes to sneaker culture, New Balance has long been considered the comfort brand for Saturday-afternoon-errand-running dads (and neo-Nazi white guys), emphasizing comfort over their cool factor. That has begun to change in recent years, though, with the brand signing such pop-culture luminaries as Kawhi Leonard and Jack Harlow, even going as far as pairing the two up in a not-so-subtle reference to Jack’s upcoming star turn in a remake of White Men Can’t Jump.
Now, the sneaker group adds another slick collaboration to its growing collection. Donald Glover, best known as the creator and star of the hit FX series Atlanta, has added to his own expansive resume — which includes music, movies, and stand-up comedy — with the upcoming release of the RC30. Glover previously partnered with Adidas in 2019, but apparently living his own dad life has inspired him to take a run at the official dad shoe brand, resulting in a pair of comfort kicks that suit Donald’s low-key style. According to Joe Grondin, New Balance global collaborations manager, that’s what the brand was going for. In a statement, he said:
“With celebrity-endorsed sneakers coming out every weekend, we thought Donald was a good collaborator for New Balance to take a more considered approach. No loud colors or branding, just classic, easy-to-wear colorways of a new silhouette that fit Donald’s style.”
In addition, Donald directed and shared a collection of animated short films introducing the new silhouette (and taking a clever dig at NFTs) featuring some cute, corporate anthropomorphic animals. Check it out below, along with some shots of the shoe itself.
A couple days ago, Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp took to TikTok to share some DMs between Doja Cat and himself, in which Doja romantically inquired about new Stranger Things co-star Joseph Quinn. It turns out Doja wasn’t pleased with that, as she has revealed in a live broadcast.
Doja started by trying to have empathy for 17-year-old Schnapp, saying, “First, let’s try to be chill about it. To be fair, this is, like, a kid. Noah is, like… I don’t know how old he is, but there’s no way he’s over, like, 21. And he might be, I could be wrong. But when you’re that young, you make mistakes. You do dumb sh*t. I’m trying to be super fair. You do dumb sh*t, you say dumb sh*t, you f*ckin’ f*ck up relationships with people. You make mistakes. You’re supposed to do stuff like that so that you know not to do it in the future. I did my share of f*ck-ups so that I don’t f*ck up again.”
Then, she continued, “But the fact that this person, that Noah did that — went and posted a private conversation between me and him — is so unbelievably socially unaware and wack, and like… you know what I mean? That’s like borderline snake sh*t… that’s like weasel sh*t.”
Doja Cat calls out Noah Schnapp for sharing her Instagram DMs without her permission:
“The fact that Noah did that […] is so unbelievably socially unaware and wack. That’s like borderline snake shit… that’s like weasel shit.” pic.twitter.com/qXZdmv1K4S
(@MementoMoriXO) 
