TikTok
Remember When They Wanted to Ban TikTok? It’s Already Starting To Happen
U.S. lawmakers and politicians have been increasingly waging war on TikTok, the hugely popular social media app owned by Chinese company Bytedance.
TikTok’s critics have accused the app of being a direct channel to the Chinese government and, thus, a privacy and cybersecurity risk. In particular, they have raised concerns that TikTok collects massive amounts of data from U.S. citizens. It may be shared with the Chinese government and could be used to interfere with U.S. elections by spreading misinformation.
The app is already banned from all devices issued by the U.S. military. This past Wednesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bill banning the app from all devices issued by federal agencies. The bill contains exceptions for law enforcement, national security, and security research.
Earlier this past week, the governors of Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Utah ordered their agencies to prohibit the app on all state-issued devices. These states join Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, and Nebraska, which already have similar bans. These bans also include, for example, blocking the use of the app on campus and dorm WiFi at state universities.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R. Fla.) is leading a bipartisan effort to pass a law banning TikTok altogether in the U.S. The proposed legislation would ban social media companies belonging to “countries of concern,” i.e., China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela.
In a statement on its website, TikTok states that it stores U.S. user data in the United States and that none of its data is subject to Chinese law. It says further that it has never been asked to remove content by the Chinese government and would not do so if asked. However, in July 2022, TikTok confirmed in a letter to U.S. Senators that employees outside the U.S., including China-based employees, could access data on U.S. users.
Implanting a U.S.-wide TikTok ban would present a formidable challenge. Over a billion users visit the TikTok site each month, and substantial commercial interests use TikTok as a platform and rely on its services. A TikTok ban would likely be politically unpopular. It would raise the question of why foreign social media companies are being singled out when there are domestic social media companies, such as Facebook, that are equally capable of disrupting U.S. elections through the spread of propaganda and misinformation.
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How “Just Wanna Rock” Helped Jersey Club Take Over TikTok
Central Cee Closes Out A Hot Year With New Single “Let Go”
Central Cee’s made his mark across American in 2022. From the release of his sophomore project, 23 to the viral success of “Doja,” the British rapper left a mark on the year and will undoubtedly have a grip on 2023.
Just a few weeks ago, the rapper previewed new music on TikTok that ultimately went viral. The rapper sampled the Passenger’s “Let Me Go” for the record while adding his own spin to it. Fans quickly ate up the snippet, transforming the short preview into a TikTok hit.
Today, the rapper unloaded the single in its entirety before we enter the official of holiday season. KwolleM and Nastylgia transform the 2012 hit record into velvety drill banger that delves into Cee’s vulnerability. With heartbreak and mistrust in his mind, Central Cee showcases his versatility across the new single. This time, he puts less of an emphasis on cut-throat bars and brings forth a more melodic style that his day-one fans will find nostalgic value in. Cee is clearly about to do something big in the future, and the release of “LET GO” signals huge plays for 2023.
The rapper’s latest single arrives a little less than two months after releasing, NO MORE LEAKS. Central Cee delivered the four-song pack after a breach of his vault when hackers leaked several records online. In response, he blessed fans with the project which includes the single, “One Up.”
We’re excited to hear what Central Cee has up his sleeves in the new year. In the meantime, press play on “LET GO” below and sound off with your thoughts on his new single in the comments.
Check out Central Cee’s Digital Cover story with HotNewHipHop here.
Quotable Lyrics
This girl make me question love
This girl make me feel like less of a man ’cause I’m feelin’ depressed and stuff
Can’t believe I was willing to drop everyone and invest in us
The last time that we fucked was fucked, the way you got up, got dressed and cut
Finesse2Tymes Brings The Viral Hit ‘Back End’ To UPROXX Sessions
The name may be new to you, but, Finesse2Tymes isn’t a rookie to the rap game. The Memphis native rose to local prominence years back alongside fellow hometown rappers like Moneybagg Yo and Blac Youngsta. Yet his rise to national fame and consciousness was cut short after being arrested due to a federal weapons charge.
Five years later, he’s back and better, with an infectious hit under his belt. His single, “Back End,” exploded on TikTok late this summer, and he hasn’t looked back. Creators were obsessed with the standout lyric, “It’s cool when they do it (It’s cool, huh?) / It’s a problem when I do it, f*ck ’em,” and today he brings the hit’s contagious energy to UPROXX Sessions.
Finesse2Tyme is far from shy in his Sessions performance. He brings the spirit of the south and the confidence of a rapper with a viral hit to the bathroom stage. Watch Finesse2Tymes perform “Back End” for UPROXX Sessions above.
UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.
The Most Viewed TikTok Videos of 2022
We all indulge in our own TikTok world- with algorithms that are custom tailored to our individual palates. Though TikTok does not offer a personalized recap of the year, it does provide data about overall users’ most-watched videos of the year. These videos may not be your particular favorites, but they are at least the most popular.
As the hype of Spotify Wrapped has already begun to mellow, looking back at the most viewed TikTok’s of 2022 brings back memories that make us want to laugh, cringe, cry- or all of the above.
The Large Chocolate Giraffe
@amauryguichon Chocolate Giraffe!
This 8.3ft tall 100% chocolate sculpture is my biggest creation yet. #amauryguichon #chocolate #giraffe
This video, uploaded by TikTok user @amaurygichon, displays the construction process of sculpting a very large giraffe out of chocolate. To be exact, the sculpture is 8.3 feet tall and 100% chocolate. Guichon is a trained pastry chef from France and although this is indeed his largest work, he has also sculpted dragons, cellos, and a 150-pound shark out of chocolate.
Squishy the Chipmunk Returns
Uploaded by TikTok user @chipmunksoftiktok, this video of a chipmunk named Squishy documents his hungry return from hibernation. Squishy gnawed on more than a few peanuts and generated quite a fanbase. The top comment on the post says, “that’s Alvin chipmunks
,” which leaves room for interpretation, as it is not entirely clear what that means. Either way people love Squishy.
Rosalía Chewing Gum
The Rosalía Challenge spread through TikTok like a wildfire. The challenge originated from a video of the singer walking onstage and chewing gum while performing her song “Bizcochito” at a 2022 concert. Eventually, the trend was picked up by all sides of TikTok to voice opinions on different topics or simply have a deadpan staredown with the camera while chewing gum.
The “Jiggle Jiggle” One
In March, Duke and Jones uploaded a remix of documentarian Louis Theroux rapping a cappella in an interview, which threw the internet into a frenzy. Theroux’s rhymes were made into a viral sensation with the help of a remix by the Mississippi rap duo Reese and Bigalow. The “Jiggle Jiggle” TikTok dance Riverdale cast members are doing here was born out of England and is not complete without the unamused facial expressions.
“I’m Just a Baby!”
On February 19th, @little.blooming.women posted an adorably relatable video of her child anxiously (and then irritably) saying “I’m just a baby,” in response to her mothers orders. The video united users all over TikTok who felt exactly the same and thought the child’s response might be the most perfect one out there.
The Corn Kid Video
@schmoyoho intro song for any meal/snack with corn
– from iconic interview on @doingthings
Tariq, second-grader and intense corn enthusiast earned a New York Time Profile this year for his adorable love for corn and ability to produce catchy sound bites. @schmoyoho is not new to virality as you may remember him from the ”Songify the News” series on Youtube around the 2016 election. With a mixture of the Corn Kid remix and “Chrissy Wake Up,” @schmoyoho knows how to rule TikTok.
Lizzo, The Choreographer
@lizzo I would’ve given my left coochie lip to be at the spring awakening reunion show
Lizzo was tired of seeing people hit the steps to her song “About Damn Time” wrong and decided to take matters into her own hands. She yells at amateurs to set the record straight on how the dance is actually supposed to be executed, leaving no room for excuses. You either got it or you don’t. Thank you for the corrections Lizzo!
High School Musical Reveal
For two-minutes straight choir teacher Miles Finn, who is based in Iowa, revealed the school musical to his students. They all excitedly sit and watch his introduction, reminding us the importance and wholesomeness of arts education. Finn told Good Morning America, “I decided to throw a little bait and switch in there and have the musical that we were doing … actually not up on the board, [which] really threw them for a loop.” The musical ended up being The Addams Family, very fitting based on Netflix’s new drop.
Helping Tom Get Back on His Feet
@jimmydarts Tom is no longer homeless and now has a full time job that he loves
In this viral video, Jimmy Darts got a homeless man named Tom, a job doing something that he loves. Tom told Jimmy, “I love it! I wish I could sleep down here! Coming down to work is the most important thing. It’s a great place to work! It feels wonderful.” $20,000 was raised on his behalf by a friend as a testament to the power of community care. This genre of TikTok has been popularized by creator Isaiah Garza who was a formerly unhoused youth from a Mexican immigrant family. His advocacy for the unhoused and for performing “random acts of kindness—like giving a stranger a new phone, or taking a 97-year-old World War II veteran to Disney,” has touched hearts all across TikTok.
Lava vs. Ice
So-called “satisfying” videos are all over TikTok. From slime and ASMR to experiments like this one, the top 10 list would not be complete without this destruction video. This experiment showcases what happens to ice and lava when they are placed in direct contact with one another. You’ll have to watch to find out who wins.
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Diddy’s Alleged BM Dana Tran Lip-Syncs to City Girls
When Diddy shared that the Combs family welcomed a new baby girl, the public didn’t know how to react. Initially, some suggested that one of the Bad Boy mogul’s sons must have welcomed a child; however, it was only a matter of hours before more information was shared. As the rumor mill worked overtime, TMZ emerged with an update. They confirmed Diddy and a California woman welcomed a daughter in October.
Quickly, people began searching for the identity of the mother. She is said to be a cyber security specialist named Dana Tran, and this news has caused her life to become a trending topic. Although it looks like she has now wiped her TikTok clean, a video showed Tran dancing to a viral track that hosts a look from City Girls.
Read More: Diddy’s New Baby News Follows Alleged Fling With Influencer Shawntya Joseph
Moneybagg Yo’s “Said Sum (Remix)” featured the hitmaking Florida duo, and JT’s portion was widely popular in a TikTok trend. The mother of Diddy’s youngest daughter can be seen lip-syncing to the lyrics—sort of. She didn’t quite nail down every line, but she looked like she was enjoying herself, just the same.
This, of course, ignited the internet, considering City Girls rapper Yung Miami has been dating Diddy for some time. The pair have collaborated in the studio, flirted on social media, discussed their romance on Caresha Please, and posed in photographs from their jet-setting adventures. DJ Akademiks stirred the pot by labeling Yung Miami as a side chick, but she hopped online to refute his claims.
Read More: Yung Miami & DJ Akademiks Clash Over Diddy Baby Report
Meanwhile, people continue to piece together who Dana Tran is, as well as her relationship with Diddy. She wants to keep her life as fiercely protected as possible, but the internet isn’t giving her any peace. Check out her video above.
Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” Used In Police TikTok Announcing $1.1M Drug Bust
It appears that a Florida Police Department might be big fans of Lil Wayne. Over the weekend, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office shared a TikTok announcing a $1.1M drug bust with Weezy’s 2008 hit, “A Milli” soundtracking the video.
The TikTok video shows Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno along with two other officers standing behind a table of cash. Then, they announce that they successful conducted a major drug bust.
“Christmas is canceled for these two drug dealers and the streets are cleared of drugs, guns and a milli,” Sheriff Marceno says. Just as he finishes talking, Lil Wayne’s”A Milli” begins to play. The video reveals that the police department executed two warrants. During that time, they seized two kilos of cocaine, along with $1.1M in cash, which they count throughout the clip.
Oh wow police making drug bust TikToks now
nasty work pic.twitter.com/GhXaT4UFoq
— Certified Lover Girl
(@itsNellzz) December 10, 2022
Lil Wayne’s “A Milli” stands as one of his biggest hits to date. Released ahead of Tha Carter III, the single earned Wayne the Grammy for Best Rap Solo performance.
Lil Wayne has yet to respond to the clip and it seems unlikely that he will in the near future. However, fans should expect to hear some new music in the near future. DJ Drama and Weezy recently linked up, sparking speculation that another installment in the Dedication series was coming. However, Drama also indicated that he’s working on a new album so there’s a good chance the two have a song coming out soon.
Most recently, Lil Wayne joined forces with YG for the latter’s new single, “Miss My Dawgs.” The two artists paid tribute to Slim400 on the single. Ahead of the song’s release, YG blessed Lil Wayne with a new 4Hunnid chain to celebrate their latest collab.
In addition to his musical output in recent weeks, the National Museum Of African American Music honored Lil Wayne with an exhibit dedicated to his catalog and impact.
Lizzo Has Been Dubbed TikTok’s Top Artist For 2022
With the help of over 26 million followers and one of the top songs on the social media platform this year, Lizzo has become the undisputed “Queen of TikTok.” Lizzo has been named the No. 1 music artist on TikTok this year, based on total video views, Variety reports. Her hit single, “About Damn Time,” was the app’s fourth-highest trending song this year.
The pop singer’s instructional dance video for the hit song was the seventh-highest trending video in 2022. Lizzo has also been named the app’s fifth-highest-viewed artist globally.
@lizzo I would’ve given my left coochie lip to be at the spring awakening reunion show
Joining Lizzo is other commercial juggernauts such as Bella Poarch, who came in second, Bad Bunny (No. 3), Charlie Puth (No. 4), and Doja Cat, who rounded out the top five. Selena Gomez, Billie Eilish, and Meghan Trainor were also included in the top 10 trending artists of 2022.
Here are the Top 10 TikTok Top Artists 2022 in the US:
- Lizzo
- Bella Poarch
- Bad Bunny
- Charlie Puth
- Doja Cat
- Selena Gomez
- Nessa Barrett
- Yung Gravy
- Bille Eilish
- Meghan Trainor
“We’re honored to celebrate our global community who shaped this year’s trends, shared new ideas, learned from one another, and turned their passions into careers and livelihoods throughout 2022,” TikTok chief operating officer Vanessa Pappas said in a recent statement, per Variety.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Akon Teams Up With TikTok For New EP, ‘TT Freak’
Akon is back with another project and a lead single. This time he links up with social media giant, TikTok for the TT Freak EP.
The Konvict Muzik CEO dropped consecutive projects in the same month of October back in 2019 entitled, El Negreeto and Akonda respectively.
While it has been three years since his last solo musical output, he returns to the scene looking for a TikTok Freak. The single, name after the project’s title, is not what fans are accustomed to hearing from the “Don’t Matter” hitmaker. It’s a new sound that potentially fast tracks us to his future sound.
Akon continues to drive the music industry forward through his creativity, musicality, and entrepreneurship.
Akon calls on producer Nektunez who has amassed more than 10 billion views on TikTok and billed as one of the biggest stars to come out of Africa in recent times.
He’s most well-known for his cult Ameno Amapiano remix. The multi-instrumentalist and producer is one of the most talented producers of his generation.
TT FREAK also features songs by Konvict Kulture’s first female rapper Amirror, who recently signed with signed with the label and is set to release her first EP next year.
The TT FREAK EP debuts alongside the official music video for “TT FREAK”, executively produced by hoo.be, an early-stage tech company.
The “TT FREAK” video was shot by rising PNB Rock and Trippie Redd’s Director Jake The Shooter in LA with some of the biggest social media influencers including Markell Washington, Duckinss and Matt Steffanina to name a few. John MaMann and Dawty were also on the track as well.
Check out the TT Freak EP and the title track video below.
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