Life

Doja Cat Uses Her Song Placement In A Taco Bell Ad To Campaign For The Return Of Mexican Pizza

by
doja cat taco bell mexican pizza
Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

Doja Cat, who had a huge year with the release of her third album Planet Her, is trying to leverage her influence to bring back a beloved fast-food menu item: Taco Bell’s discontinued Mexican pizza. Last year, Taco Bell cut the menu favorite in an effort to streamline its gargantuan selection (and save over 7 million pounds of paperboard in the process). The move was met with general outcry on social media as fans mourned the loss of the topping-stacked tortilla in a box.

At the time, Doja Cat was one of those who lamented the pizza getting axed, “asking nicely” for the fast-food giant to reconsider. However, in the past year, Doja has apparently accumulated some goodwill at Taco Bell corporate — or, at least, at Taco Bell’s ad agency — landing her song “Get Into It (Yuh)” on the company’s new commercial for its Double Steak Grilled Cheese Burrito. In the ad, a geeky cosplayer (SAGA!!) appears to have met their match, until the infamous Taco Bell sound effect prompts a late-night snack run instead (surely, they could have done both, but I digress).

Doja, seizing the opportunity, tweeted, “Hey @tacobell, just heard my song in your commercial… I’m a #TacoBellPartner now. So where’s my Mexican Pizza?”

When a fan answered, prompting her to speak to Taco Bell’s “Chief Impact Officer,” who is a friend of Doja’s — it’s Lil Nas X, by the way — the Taco Bell account responded in typical personified corporate account fashion: with a the three-emoji string of eye-mouth-eye, implying… well, there are a lot of potential definitions, but in this case, it seems to be a sanguine interest in the topic being discussed.

Of course, that only opened the door for more of Doja’s meme-ready shenanigans, as she hit Taco Bell with that infamous three-letter acronym, “WYD?” When the response turned out to not be “rolling out those delicious Mexican pizzas,” though, she dismissed her new playmate, telling them to “STFU” until further notice.

Could this be the beginning of the return of the Mexican Pizza menu item? Wouldn’t it be a weird way to begin the rollout? And isn’t “weird” pretty much Doja’s (and Lil Nas X’s) whole brand? And how does Rico Nasty — Doja’s good friend who occasionally goes by the alter ego “Tacobella” — figure into all of this (they’ve swapped profile pics for the past week or so)? I don’t know, but I can’t wait to find out. Fingers crossed for a “limited-time” sort of deal, a la Megan Thee Stallion’s “Hottie Sauce” collab with Popeyes.

These Photos From Seismic Dance Event Will Help Cure Your Winter Blues

by
Seismic Dance Event Photo Gallery
BCandia

Although the year is winding down and the pandemic persists, music festivals continue to surge as they make up for lost time from 2020. And in Austin, Texas — where warmer temperatures pervade, even in winter — concerts and live events are still going particularly strong. Seismic Dance Event, held November 12th through 14th at The Concourse Project music and event venue, proves as much.

The boutique music festival is curated specifically for house, techno, and underground heads. So you can imagine the kind of feel-good PLUR vibes that were pulsing through the air, complete with out-there rainbow outfits, flashing LED light fixtures, and bass-heavy beats. The lineup featured more than 50 global headlining artists across two main stages, with even more DJs playing at the nightly after-parties that raged late into each night. On top of the entertainment, there were art installations, food trucks, and plenty of room to dance across the seven acres of land at the venue.

Basically, Seismic Dance Event was a weekend to remember (or not), as these photos attest. To add some joy, glitter, and good vibes into your week, we’re sharing all the best photos from the weekend — sure to cure your winter blues in no time.

Music Festival Photos
Adjfoto/A.Djuren
Seismic Dance Event
Clark Terrell
Seismic Dance Event Austin
Adjfoto/A.Djuren
Seismic Dance Event Photos
Adjfoto/A.Djuren
Music Festivals Austin Texas
Adjfoto/A.Djuren
Music Festivals Texas
Memorandum Media // Jason Myers
Austin Texas Festival
Clark Terrell
Seismic Dance Event Photo Gallery
BCandia
Music Festival Photos Austin
Adjfoto/A.Djuren
Seismic Dance Event 2021
BCandia
Seismic Dance Event Photo
Adjfoto/A.Djuren
Music Festival Photos
Memorandum Media // Jason Myers
Music Festival Photos 2021
Memorandum Media // Jason Myers
Seismic Dance Event Photo Gallery
Clark Terrell
Seismic Dance Event Photo Gallery
Clark Terrell

Our Review Of The New ZZ Top Texas Whisky From Balcones

by
ZZ Top Whisky
Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

We’re not going to lie, we love a good collab whiskey around here. We also tend to be pretty ride-or-die for Waco, Texas’ Balcones Distilling. Part of that adoration is in the fact that the distillery team is always changing things up and innovating. They’re also always dropping cool collab bottles that actually deliver.

Case in point, their new release (so new that it’s still pre-order only) is a collaboration between the Texas distillery and the legendary Texas band, ZZ Top. This sounds like a match made in whisk(e)y heaven.

The batch was created this year over Zoom as the three band members met with the Balcones team to taste barrels and create blends to build this whisky. They ended up with a Texas whisky that’s a blend of whiskies from Balcones. Each whisky ended up representing a member of the blues rock trio and was named ‘Tres Hombres’ in their honor. We were lucky enough to get a bottle in advance, so let’s see what’s in the bottle!

ZZ Top Tres Hombres Texas Whisky

Balcones ZZ Top Tres Hombres
Balcones

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $60 (pre-sale)

The Whisky:

ZZ Top worked directly with Jared Himstedt (over Zoom) to blend three Balcones whiskies together. The blend is one part Balcone’s signature Blue Corn Whisky, one part Texas Single Malt, and one part Texas Rye. The idea behind the blends was to build the sip from a bold and oily base towards a fruity mid-palate that ends up nice and spicy. Let’s see how they did.

Tasting Notes:

The nose really leans into the apple crumble with plenty of buttery streusel, brown sugar, and holiday spices (especially cinnamon) with a hint of a worn suede jacket that’s layered with decades of your grandma’s favorite perfume, honey, and cigarettes. The palate does indeed shift away from those notes slightly. The apple crumble is still there but leans more into the brown sugar to the point that it feels wet and almost heavy while a chewy and almost earthy note of grape skins, seeds, and stems arrive with a very slight bitter note that’s also green and herbal. That fruity but woody mid-palate leads towards a finish that’s very spicy and warm but more like a fresh pile of grated ginger next to apple-cider-soaked cinnamon sticks and a flutter of something savory … it kind of feels like fresh rosemary or thyme stems.

The Bottle:

Balcones puts all of their expressions in an old-school port bottle and it works. These bottles always stand out on a bar cart or whiskey bar shelf thanks to the stout size.

The label on this one also pops with a unique design dominated by the abstract image of ZZ Top. It’s eye-catching for sure and you know everything you need from that label by just looking at it.

Bottom Line:

I really dig this. It’s not a mind-blowing whisky but it’s a really solid sipper. It goes to interesting places and feels like the perfect gift for any ZZ Top fan this coming holiday season.

Ranking:

90/100 — This is a solid and very unique sipper and a great gift for a fan.

It’s Nearly Christmas, So Of Course, Mariah Carey Is The Latest Star To Get Her Own McDonald’s Menu

by
mariah carey mcdonalds
Getty Image

Complain about Christmas creep all you want, but you know you can already hear those sleigh bells ringing — which means that it’s the perfect time for McDonald’s to announce its latest season-appropriate recording artist collaboration with Ms. “All I Want For Christmas” herself, Mariah Carey.

That’s right, this December, the Mariah Menu comes to McDonald’s from the 13th to Christmas Eve. The menu will include daily deals — advent calendar style — on one free menu item each day (so long as customers spend at least $1). For instance, when the special kicks off on the 13th, they’ll be able to get a free Big Mac. Later on in the month, the free item is an apple pie, and on the final day of the promotion, you can get free cookies.

In the press release for the new menu, Mariah gives the following quote: “Some of my favorite memories with my kids are our family trips to McDonald’s, and of course, each of us has our go-to order,” she explains. “Mine is the cheeseburger, and I get it with extra pickles.”

The celebrity-branded meals McDonald’s has been pushing over the past two years have been incredibly successful, with the Travis Scott deal lifting the company out of a pandemic-fueled sales slump. Most recently, the company partnered with Bay Area star Saweetie, and now, even competitors like Popeyes have begun their own promotions with collaborators like Megan Thee Stallion.

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

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Is Set To Host A Job Fair In Madison Square Garden This Month

by
jay-z-tfeat.jpg
Getty Image

Jay-Z may not be the best at using social media, but the billionaire is still a savvy businessman, and his Roc Nation company wants to help lift up others in the working world. That’s why they’re set to host a massive job fair in New York City’s Madison Square Garden later this month. There, job seekers can learn to leverage their skills and be interviewed for perspective roles on the spot.

The fair takes place November 18 in Madison Square Garden. Those in attendance will be able to speak with companies like Zara, Lowe’s, Madison Square Garden, Amazon, Foot Locker, Live Nation, Vice, and 40/40 Club and more. They’ll also have the opportunity to seek advice on resume building, professional attire, and receive styling and grooming services.

In a statement about the job fair, Team Roc’s managing director Dania Diaz talked about the opportunities that are created by the event:

“The Team Roc New York Job Fair is a real opportunity for socio-economic mobility for New Yorkers – those who want to work, yet have not had the exposure or connections to the right-fit jobs, or to the support services that can strengthen their prospects for employment. My hope is this event will not only stimulate New York’s economy but pair the state’s best and brightest employees with the country’s leading organizations. It is also a chance for us to work together – public, private, nonprofit sectors – to address the state’s labor shortages in a meaningful way.”

Sign up for Roc Nation’s job fair at Madison Square Garden here.

Ye Visited A McDonalds’ In Sweden And Quickly Inspired A New ‘Treat Yeself’ Ad Campaign

by
Getty Image

When most people go to McDonald’s, the end result is usually the customer ending up with some food to eat. If you’re Ye, though, that happens, but also your visit gets turned into a national ad campaign.

Two days ago (October 18), the artist previously known as Kanye West visited a McDonald’s location in Sweden and had himself a meal. Those who oversee the restaurant in the country saw an opportunity, as they went ahead and used Ye’s order as promotional material. The very next day, the chain shared images on social media of Ye’s order — chicken sandwich, chicken wings, fries, chocolate milkshake, frappé, and dipping sauces — and included the slogan “Treat Yeself.”

Ye’s love of McDonald’s isn’t new. Back in 2018, he tweeted, “McDonald’s is my favorite restaurant.”

Attentive music fans might at this point be wondering where the love for Adele is: The singer recently declared that she absolutely stans McDonald’s, saying, “My ideal meal, my death row meal, my last meal would be a chicken nugget with a Big Mac and then fries. That’s my three-course. I eat it at least once a week.”

Of course, McDonald’s has enjoyed a healthy relationship with the music world lately, as they have had promotional campaigns with Saweetie, Travis Scott, BTS, and others.

LA Will Now Require Proof Of COVID Vaccination At Every Indoor Concert

by
Getty Image

Over the past few months, several touring musicians and concert promoters began requiring patrons to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 before entry in recent months, and the city of LA is now following suit. On Thursday, the LA City Council announced indoor entertainment businesses everywhere, including movie theaters, concert venues, restaurants, bars, gyms, shopping centers, and sports event centers, will be legally required to have their patrons show proof of vaccination before stepping indoors.

According to a report from Deadline, the ordinance was passed with 11 “ayes” and two “nays” in the City Council, and it will officially go into effect on November 4. Those with medical or religious exemptions can still enter businesses, but they will have to provide a recent negative COVID test instead. Businesses that don’t comply with the ordinance will be punished with a fine. The first infraction will result in an official notice from the city, the second infraction will result in a fine of $1,000, the third will have a fine of $2,000, and any further infractions will each result in a $5,000 fine.

Speaking about LA’s decision to require proof of vaccination, City Council President Nury Martinez said, “No one will force you to get a vaccine, but if you decide not to get one, there are certain things you will not be able to do.” She continued, “This is no longer negotiable, the stakes are too high.”

Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, Biggie, And Other Rappers Now Have Their Own Funko Pop

by
Getty Image

Most collectors of Funko Pop! action figures know the brand has collectibles for just about every form of entertainment from music to TV. The brand even has some exclusive Golden Girls Funkos. Funko has been recently beefing up their collection of music-related actions figures, and after unveiling dolls of Aaliyah and Devo earlier this year, they are now immortalizing some of hip-hop’s biggest stars.

Funko just dropped their new Vinyl Gold collection this week. Fans can now show some love to their favorite emcees by purchasing a Notorious B.I.G, Lil Wayne, Ice Cube, or Tupac Shakur Funko. Rather than having a large head and cartoonish features like most Funko figures, the rappers in their Vinyl Gold collection are more realistic looking.

Each premium vinyl figure stands at five inches tall and features one of their recognizable outfits, with Biggie sporting a crisp white suit, Lil Wayne showing off his tattoo’d arms and red accessories, Ice Cube in some all-black attire, and Tupac standing shirtless with his signature bandana and Timberland boots. Biggie’s Funko is the only one with a different size option as there’s a 12-inch figure available for fans who want to make a statement.

Check out Funko’s Vinyl Gold collection here.

Check Out These Photos Of Life Is Beautiful’s Return To Las Vegas

by
Paul L. Carter

I don’t know about you, but I really, really missed music festivals. And after a year and a half without them, music festivals returned big time this summer, and are now in full swing. Some favorites, like Lollapalooza, Rolling Loud, and Pitchfork Music Festival, all already welcomed fans back to their grounds (and you can look at what’s still to come in our handy hub that we built for you). But there is no festival quite like Life Is Beautiful in Las Vegas.

Taking over Downtown Vegas for the weekend, LiB shows visitors a different side of the desert oasis. It’s not held on the more popular strip area, but in what is commonly referred to as Old Vegas, featuring some of the classic area casinos and hotels as a backdrop and abundant street art on the side of nearly every building. In a city that already feels like a playground, Life Is Beautiful ups the anti, imparting fans with stunning views, top-tier cuisine, educational seminars, and, of course, music. This year saw an impressive slate, including Tame Impala, Green Day, Glass Animals, St. Vincent, Young Thug, ASAP Rocky, and many more. Check out some of the highlights, shot by our own Paul L. Carter, below.

Glass Animals // Paul L. Carter
Glass Animals // Paul L. Carter
Ashnikko // Paul L. Carter
Tame Impala // Paul L. Carter
Tame Impala // Paul L. Carter
ASAP Rocky // Paul L. Carter
ASAP Rocky // Paul L. Carter
ASAP Rocky // Paul L. Carter
Green Day // Paul L. Carter
Green Day // Paul L. Carter
Haim // Paul L. Carter
Haim // Paul L. Carter
Haim // Paul L. Carter
Ludacris // Paul L. Carter
St. Vincent // Paul L. Carter
Young Thug // Paul L. Carter
Young Thug // Paul L. Carter

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

Eminem Is Turning His ‘Mom’s Spaghetti’ Pop-Up Concept Into A Permanent Restaurant

by
Getty Image

Eminem is going from rapper to restauranteur with next week’s opening of Mom’s Spaghetti, a new eatery based on the pop-up concept inspired by one of his most famous lyrics. The Detroit rapper previously brought the dish based on his famous “Lose Yourself” line to his Revival promotional event, as well as a second pop-up dedicated to the hospital workers of Detroit during last year’s quarantines. He also brought the pop-up to Coachella and Firefly in 2018 when he headlined those festivals. To promote the restaurant, Eminem even shot a tongue-in-cheek commercial that is currently airing on local TV.

In addition to Mom’s Spaghetti — both with and without meatballs — the restaurant will apparently be serving something called a “s’ghetti sandwich,” which sounds like exactly the thing a stressed-out mom living on the outskirts of Detroit’s city center would serve a hyperactive pre-teen. In the commercial, which details these items, Eminem appears to upchuck a takeout container from the restaurant, paying a fitting tribute to the line that inspired the whole thing:

His palms are sweaty
Knees weak, arms are heavy
There’s vomit on his sweater already: Mom’s spaghetti

You can lose yourself in the saucy, noodle-y goodness next Wednesday, September 29 in Detroit.