Kyle Kuzma is set to make his regular-season debut with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, but ahead of his new team’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors, the 2020 NBA Champion has been caught throwing subliminals at his former team on Instagram.
One fan even brought up a statistic about the Laker’s performance since trading Kyle Kuzma to the Wizards, noting that 2020 Champions have not won a game since their disappointing series against the Pheonix Suns during the playoffs. “Lakers 0-7 without Kuzma,” the Twitter user wrote alongside a thinking emoji.
While some people may think that it’s merely a coincidence and that the pre-season ultimately doesn’t matter anyway, Kyle Kuzma apparently found it a little funny because he reposted the tweet to his Instagram story in a quick post-and-delete.
Coincidentally, the Wizards didn’t win any pre-season games either, and over four games, Kuzma averaged about 12 points per game. Tonight, basketball fans will see if Kyle Kuzma gets the last laugh when he and the Washington Wizards take on the Toronto Raptors.
Florida rapper Kodak Black clearly still has a lot of animosity toward Jackboy, one of the artists that was formerly signed to his label. The two have been going back-and-forth on social media for months and most recently, it looked like they were both ready to move past their differences. On multiple occasions, Jackboy has refused to speak ill about Kodak, but Yak hasn’t been as respectful with his old friend.
Jackboy recently spoke about his feud with Kodak Black for On The Come Up, but he never got a chance to respond to his ex-friend seemingly trying to ruin his current relationship.
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After Asian Doll tweeted about how she wants a Lamborghini truck for her birthday, which is coming up in December, Kodak Black responded to her and told the Dallas-based rapper that she chose the wrong man to date then, dissing her boyfriend Jackboy.
“Das Why You Posta Been Wit @sykobob1k,” replied Kodak to the tweet, trying to hook up his homeboy Syko Bob with Asian. By now though, Kodak has to know that she has been spending a lot of time with Jackboy though, so this is probably his way of trolling an old friend.
What do you think of the latest wrinkle in the feud between Kodak Black and Jackboy? Was this petty on Yak’s part?
Beanz is busy prepping for the release of her album, Tables Turn on November 5th, but the Pennsylvania rapper still found time to release a new single, titled “Wake Me Up When I’m Dreaming” today.
The nearly four minute long track sees the former Rhythm + Flow contestant drop bars about feeling golden every day and and overcoming the dark days that she’s been through.
“Pressure is attention,” Beanz tells listeners on the outro. “That others feel when you walk in the room, or when your name is brought up. When another woman see you come in the room, and they say, ‘I don’t like that bitch.’ And her friend ask, ‘but why?’ That‘s pressure.”
“The inspo behind it was following my dreams despite what life throws in my direction. The video gives the impression that I’m actually in a dream while I’m embracing the moment and moving forward to what’s next. The end of the video adds a little humor and a snippet of what’s coming next on my project,” the PA native told Brooklyn Vegan.
Check out the video for “Wake Me Up When I’m Dreaming” by Beanz above.
Conspiracy theorists stick together, it seems. Kyrie Irving, a flat-earther and anti-vaxxer, has a friend in Chris Brown, another celebrity that has a history of sharing contrarian takes on social media, and is sometimes known for pushing his own conspiracy theories.
Following a long month of media scrutiny as Kyrie Irving refuses to get the COVID-19 vaccine, effectively losing out on millions of dollars and potentially costing his team a title, Chris Brown has co-signed Kyrie’s anti-vaxx stance, calling the hoops star “the real hero” as he continues to be criticized on social media.
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Sharing a picture of Kyrie on his Instagram Stories, Chris wrote, “THE REAL HERO!!!! I stand with my brother. WHOEVER DON’T LIKE IT…. Go live your damn life.. ITS HIS CHOICE AND A DAMN GOOD ONE. ALWAYS IN MY BROTHERS CORNER.”
Without protection against the virus by way of the jab, anti-vaxxers might not have the best chance to “just live their damn lives.”
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Regardless of what Kyrie Irving and Chris Brown think, vaccination is still the most effective way to protect yourself and others against COVID-19. While it does not eliminate the virus, it provides your body with the tools it needs to fight it, lowering your chances of ending up in the hospital or, even worse, dying from it. If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, find out where you can go to get the jab here.
Cardi B’s philosophy when it comes to clapping back is pretty clear; after all, she posted her thoughts directly to Instagram. “No one ever notices when you’re being provoked,” she wrote, “Just when you retaliate.” However, even acknowledging this age-old adage, which applies to street fights and NBA technical fouls alike, Cardi hasn’t stopped defending herself online when trolls attack — especially when it comes to her family.
With a hearing in Cardi’s assault trial over a 2018 strip club brawl coming up, some detractors on Twitter have taken to predicting that she’ll lose the case, despite pleading not guilty to the charges of assault and reckless endangerment. Cardi faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison (which seems unlikely, even if she loses), something a few folks on Twitter took great delight in hooting about (for what it’s worth, it looks like the comments are mostly coming from Nicki Minaj stans, which … maybe not the best time for all that, guys).
However, Cardi had a message for one of them after gloating “You’re going to prison” on one of Cardi’s recent tweets. “Before I go to prison you gone see me breakin more records and making more Ms,” she taunted. Another mocking tweet derided Offset’s potential shortcomings as a parent, prompting Cardi to defend him and wonder “why people think is sweet to play wit my kids.”
Before I go to prison you gone see me breakin more records and making more Ms https://t.co/LQWk6CSPe8
Despite being one of Twitter’s reigning queens of clever comebacks, Cardi did admit that she got tired of defending herself from detractors on both sides when she discusses politics. With that realization may come another — you should never, ever feed the trolls.
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.”
The McDonalds in Sweden has now made an advertising campaign based on Ye’s recent order and they’re using the slogan “Treat Yeself” pic.twitter.com/NO1h7CgCcz
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.
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.
Leave it to Thugger to continue to push the boundaries of what we should expect from him. After the success of his debut album So Much Fun, you’d think he’d lean further into the simple trap aesthetics that worked so well there, but instead, he takes a drastic stylistic departure akin to his “country” experiment Beautiful Thugger Girls on his latest album, Punk. However, despite its name, Punk is surprisingly low on power chords and rushed drumming, focusing instead on atmospheric, mellow production that sounds almost folksy.
It’s always been Thug’s way to make a left when everyone else expects him to make a right. Consider the mush-mouthed, yet irresistible chorus from 2014’s “Lifestyle” or the sartorially challenging cover from 2016’s Jeffery — both prime examples of Thug’s tendency to zig instead of zag while still adhering to a core of solid trap-rap fundamentals. Punk finds him again experimenting with sound and style but remaining as true as ever to his core aesthetic. In fact, it’s arguably the truest he’s ever been to himself — or at least, the most honest.
Starting with the very first song on the album, “Die Slow,” Thug is more revelatory here than he’s ever been. Over soft, poetry-house guitar strumming, Thug reveals childhood traumas, a prescient political outlook, and almost militant defiance toward being categorized, demeaned, or held back by societal expectations. Elsewhere on the album, the contrarian production leans tender, like some of the most emotive R&B ballads of the last ten years or so. “Insure My Wrist” is the most romantic ode to jewelry that hip-hop has produced in at least that span, which would be borderline surprising if Young Thug didn’t have a well-established history of being Young Thug.
“Love You More” also surprises, with its Nate Ruess and Jeff Bhasker appearances — but then again, it doesn’t, because Thug once sampled Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” sparking a years-long friendship that led to glowing assessments of Thugger’s talent from the knighted one himself. It’s also a gracious rumination on a relationship mostly bereft of Thugger’s usual cartoonish depictions of sex (although there is one line that reads as more considerate than jokey). Again, eyebrow-raising were it not from the same gentlemen whose catalog of hits includes “Best Friend,” a deceptively encouraging self-love anthem.
That isn’t to say he doesn’t go at least a little hardcore. While “Rich N**** Shit” with Juice WRLD is relatively far from Dead Kennedys — they’re philosophically opposite, on top of the sonic differences — the two rappers go for broke over a thumping, bass-turned-to-eleven beat with some good, old-fashion chest-thumping braggadocio. Meanwhile, the moody “Day Before” brings things full-circle with another confessional, ukulele-strumming introspective jam featuring Mac Miller. The punk promise here comes from the revelation that the song was literally recorded just one day before Mac’s tragic passing.
Thug brings out the best of his other guests on Punk, as well — particularly J. Cole, who stops just shy of a Thug impression on “Stressed,” a rejuvenated ASAP Rocky on “Livin It Up,” and Doja Cat on “Icy Hot.” While the tracklist feels excessive at times, the runtime comes across smooth, even with the bloat. As to why it’s called Punk, I think it boils down to Thug’s very personality. He’s always been anti-establishment, even as he slowly but surely became the establishment.
This album is his way of shaking himself loose from the tendency to stagnate and calcify as complacency sets in. He isn’t completely successful — perhaps a few more sonic cues from the rock world could have woken up some of the sleepier melodic songs — but the record is unapologetic, one-hundred-percent Thug. What’s more punk than being yourself? Maybe it’s just being willing to redefine exactly what that means, even if it’s just a little bit at a time.
Punk is out now via Atlantic Records and YSL. Get it here.
Young Thug is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
After being convicted of sex trafficking and racketeering in a New York court last month, R. Kelly’s local trial in Chicago has been set for August of 2022 according to Billboard. In that case, the singer stands accused of charges related to child pornography and obstruction of justice for alleged witness tampering and intimidation. Set to begin on August 1, the new trial is expected to last three to four weeks. R. Kelly will be defended in his second trial by his original attorneys Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard after they abandoned the New York case before it went to trial.
Greenberg also noted during today’s scheduling hearing that the singer had been placed on suicide watch after being found guilty in New York, but was since cleared. Kelly’s sentencing case in that trial is set for May 4, 2022, and the singer faces up to life in prison. Statements made by Greenberg during the scheduling suggested that he would be “revamping” his legal team for an appeal once sentencing was complete. Kelly was present at the scheduling hearing via video call but Billboard notes that he was “unable to unmute himself to answer when asked by the judge to confirm the status of his legal team.”
Malu Trevejo is one of the hottest upcoming Latin artists out right now and she just signed a record label deal with rap star Travis Scott’s Cactus Jack Records. With a combination of both English and Spanish songs, Malu is a versatile artist who loves incorporating every aspect of her culture into her music. Keep […]
The rap game wouldn’t be what it is today if it wasn’t for Lil Wayne. Even some of R&B’s current favorites took a note from Weezy F. Baby early on, including Bleu. The Mobile, AL artist joined us for the latest episode of On The Come Up where he detailed everything from his early childhood favorites, his relationship with Boosie, and the inspiration Lil Wayne gave him during his early years of making music.
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“Lil Wayne is definitely one of my favorite rappers,” Blue told HNHH. “I feel like he just used to go so hard with the punchlines. Everybody just wanted to say and do them punchlines and see how creative they can get with punchlines. So that was kind of the wave I was on back in the days. Like, I was way more lyrical than I am now.”
Bleu might’ve put an emphasis on clever punchlines at one point in time but he explained that these days, he’s more interested in telling the truth in his music, whether it rhymes or not. Proving his lyricism for Bleu is largely based on striking emotion, rather than witty wordplay.
“Yeah, I write songs now more for the feeling than the bars. I feel like, sometimes, bars will constrict you from getting across the truth, you know what I’m saying? ‘Cause, some shit might not rhyme, but the shit that you tryna say that’s really real. So that’s kind of where I just started rapping more about a real-life situation. I kinda get away from the bars and just kind of replacing that with hitting a mothafucka soul. I feel like that has the same effect.”
Make sure you check out Bleu’s full unabridged On The Come Up interview here.
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