Most wouldn’t expect Ed Sheeran to get as much as love from the rap community as he does but the man is a fan of bars. We’ve seen him collaborate alongside artists like Eminem and The Game in the past but could we potentially see Big Ed and Papoose team up on a record before the Brooklyn rapper hangs up the mic?
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Ed Sheeran appears to be a huge fan of Papoose’s wordplay, as seen in a new video the Brooklyn rapper posted on his Instagram. Pap and Sheeran linked up at the Knicks game last night when the UK singer seemed near starstruck to meet the “Thought I Was Gonna Stop” MC.
“First discovered Papoose’s music and I got a bit starstruck when I just met him. It’s an absolute pleasure,” said Sheeran. “I appreciate your wordplay. It’s fantastic and phenomenal. It’s an absolute pleasure to meet you.”
While Papoose basked in the praise, Ed Sheeran asserted that “everyone knows you got fantastic wordplay.”
“Honored to find out @teddysphotos is a fan/supporter of my music. He’s extremely talented. But was still humble enough to approach me. And show his appreciation, for what I do. Much respect,” Papoose captioned the post.
Cardi B is continuing to expand her real estate portfolio. The rapper revealed on Instagram that she bought a home in New York City. Cardi B Buys New York Mansion Cardi bought a new home in her native New York. She shared this news on Instagram, posting a photo of herself standing in the foyer […]
With their latest film, Eternals, the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to push boundaries. Director Chloe Zhao made the bold decision to include not only the franchise’s first sex scene in her movie, but also a same sex couple – Phastos, a superhero played by Brian Tyree Henry, and Ben, a non-hero played by Haaz Sleiman.
While reactions to the sex scene have been all over the map, some countries were so offended by the idea of LGBTQ+ representation in cinema that they pulled the film last week. Daily Mail notes that an official reason has not been given, although homosexuality is an illegal act in many parts of the Middle East, and it wouldn’t be the first time a film has been banned there for featuring a same-sex kiss.
Actress Angelina Jolie shared her feelings regarding the decision in an interview. “I’m sad for [those audiences], and I’m proud of Marvel for refusing to cut those scenes out.” Eternals was reportedly set to premiere in the Middle East on November 11th, but has since been removed from websites advertising upcoming films.
“I still don’t understand how we live in a world today where there’s still [people who] would not see the family Phastos has and the beauty of that relationship and that love. How anybody is angry about it, threatened by it, doesn’t approve or appreciate it is ignorant.”
The LGBTQ hero and Ben are said to “share a passionate kiss” in the movie, which several nations requested be edited out of their version of the film. In fact – they wanted to see a complete removal of the queer couple from the Eternals, as if the boundary-breaking decision to represent different relationships in Zhao’s movie had not been made at all.
Have you seen Eternals yet? If yes, give us a review of the film below.
Ben Affleck and his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez aren’t so good at saying goodbye – or that’s what the latest paparazzi photos of the couple seems to infer, anyway. In pictures obtained by TMZ, the famous duo can be seen sharing a lengthy, loving embrace before J. Lo hops on board a waiting plane, taking her to an undetermined destination.
The pair was spotted on the tarmac on Saturday afternoon, with the Hustlers star wearing a cozy looking fuzzy brown coat, some distressed jeans, and warm Ugg boots to match. Affleck’s full look can’t be seen, but we do know he was beating the crisp fall air with a dark grey coat, and he wasn’t afraid to share some silly expressions while saying goodbye to his partner.
Arturo Holmes/Getty Images
Photos show the two caught up in what appears to be a tender moment, exchanging smiles that stretch from ear to ear as they laugh, kiss, and hug. The Last Duel actor even followed the “On The Floor” singer halfway up the stairs to her plane, getting in as many smooches as possible before take off.
TMZ notes that this is the first time we’ve seen Affleck and Lopez in public together since Halloween, when they got their kids together for an evening of trick or treating in Malibu. Both stars have been busy working on upcoming projects, so it’s likely that their time together has been limited.
Rumour has it that the formerly engaged couple has been furiously house hunting in Los Angeles, looking for a place that they can finally call their own, together.
Appearing on the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast, OG West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg had plenty to say with regard to the state of the region’s hip-hop scene — and the place within that scene for the pioneering label that originally helped open the door for LA’s dominance in the wider rap culture.
Addressing the diminished importance of Death Row Records in recent years, Snoop was adamant that he could not only bring it back but also make it the hub for the biggest artists in West Coast hip-hop again. “I think all of Death Row should be in my hands,” he asserted. “I should be running that sh*t. Just like I’m [in] a position at Def Jam, Death Row means more to me because I helped create that. I think they should give me that and let me run that shit with the merchandise out, with the music all over the world. [Add] some new West Coast acts.”
He even posited that were he in this position previously, he’d have been able to sign many of LA’s premiere acts, including Roddy Ricch, Ty Dolla Sign, and YG.
But the real kicker is that he believes he could secure ownership of the label soon. “A little birdie told me it may fly my way and if it do, you’ll get everything that I told you,” he said. “If I can get Def Jam poppin’, what could I do with Death Row? Just imagine that.”
Megan and BTS will be performing together to give their “Butter” remix its television debut. It’s not clear what song(s) Rodrigo will deliver for her AMAs debut, but Bad Bunny is set to perform “Lo Siento BB:/.”
More performers are expected to be announced soon, but one who won’t make the cut is Morgan Wallen. He’s up for two awards due to his performance on the charts, but AMAs organizers noted last month, “Morgan Wallen is a nominee this year based on charting. As his conduct does not align with our core values, we will not be including him on the show in any capacity (performing, presenting, accepting). We plan to evaluate his progress in doing meaningful work as an ally to the Black community and will consider his participation in future shows.”
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Los Angeles isn’t exactly known as a hub for successful music festivals. Sure, there’s Coachella a solid two hours out of the city, but within the county lines (and neighboring Orange County), the reputation is a bit more scattershot. Events like FYF, Burgerama, and Beach Goth have all (rightfully) gone the way of the dodo after various levels of controversy, while fests like Made In America, Detour, and Festival Supreme couldn’t quite survive in the competitive atmosphere. Tyler The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw is the class of the town, and its producer Goldenvoice has been further dabbling into more niche events in the area of late. These can make you feel old (the aughts indie-celebrating Just Like Heaven), make you feel really old (the ’80s nostalgia brandishing Cruel World), or, as over the past weekend, make you feel like a part of something bigger than yourself, at 88 Rising’s Head In The Clouds festival.
Head In The Clouds debuted as a single-day event in 2018 and 2019 at Los Angeles Historic State Park, drawing more than 20,000 fans and necessitating this more fully-realized version. The ethos is pretty simple yet crucial: a celebration of Asian music and culture, both from the Asian continent and from Asian-Americans. Speaking with the LA Times earlier this year, 88 Rising (and festival) founder Sean Miyashiro said, “We just want the best of Asian music, so we can invite anyone. The last two fests were scrappy but monumental for us. This one is literally the live interpretation of everything we stand for.”
The resulting festival felt like a revelation. For cultures that often note that they feel invisible within American society, which was only underscored by the Covid crisis that saw them the subject of violence and scorn, this couldn’t be more important, especially as the event highlighted the depth and breadth of their influence. This could feel hyperlocal, like the San Gabriel Valley homage that was the 626 Night Market, to ocean-spanning, like a massive set from K-pop legend CL. During her sunset performance, rap star Saweetie highlighted her own heritage (Black, Filipino, and Chinese) while also shining a spotlight on the “Asian kings and queens” in the audience. If the audience didn’t feel seen in their day-to-day lives, Head In The Clouds was sure that Asian people wouldn’t feel that way on the festival grounds.
Philip Cosores
It’s a concept that makes more sense as the music world becomes more global. Festivals highlighting music from Africa and Latin America are becoming more common, while micro-festivals around specific cultures are beginning to leave the shadows for the mainstream. Diversity in the major music festivals is also more common, where occurrences like Blackpink’s appearing at Coachella and J Balvin’s dominance of the festival circuit are paving the way for more like them in the future, with international music treated like less like a curiosity and more like a pillar of popular music.
The majority of the big acts at Head In The Clouds wouldn’t feel out of place at a Coachella of Lollapalooza, like Japanese Breakfast, whose “banger after banger” performance proved why Michelle Zauner is one more music’s most exciting personalities, and Saturday headliner Rich Brian, whose earnest bars come across even better live than they do on record. But for someone like CL, who despite a new album that saw a big Rolling Stone feature and an appearance on Lil Dickey’s Dave remains unknown to many outside of Asian circles, the festival provided an argument for why that needed to change asap. The training that went into her K-pop career as a member of 2NE1 was on display as she danced, sang, rapped, and gave her all in such a manner that should put all American pop stars on notice that they need to up their game, immediately.
Philip Cosores
Taking place just a day after the tragedy at Astroworld in Houston, there was a clear reaction from the festival, with waters being distributed at a frantic rate and security responding to calls for help with prompt and thorough assistance. But still, the events of the day before hung heavily on Head In The Clouds, and I imagine it will over festivals for a long time. But Head In The Clouds was a reminder that this kind of event can be so much more than the party atmosphere that many are reduced to. Festivals can be meaningful celebrations, and here’s to hoping that Head In The Clouds keeps growing and assuming its place as Los Angeles’ next great music festival.
Check out some more photos from the event below.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Saweetie
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CL
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Japanese Breakfast
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Rich Brian
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With the third installment in Marvel’s Spider-Man series set to release on December 17, we are just under a month away from the return of Tom Holland’s Peter Parker.
In a recent interview with Empire Online, Holland detailed a jaw-dropping scene involving his Parker character, Parker’s Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) and a mystery character. But while Holland revealed that the scene involved he and the mystery character having a conversation about what it’s like to be a superhero, the mystery character was never revealed.
In fact, besides an appearance from fellow Avenger Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in the trailer for the upcoming film, there had been little confirmation of which heroes, and villains would play a part in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Fortunately, Marvel and the Spider-Man team just released the official movie poster, and it’s full of Easter eggs pointing to which villains Peter Parker will go up against.
The most obvious villain is Dr. Octopus, who appeared in 2004’s Spider-Man 2, starring Tobey Maguire. Sitting atop a heap of rubble presumably caused by some classic Marvel superhero fighting, Holland’s Spider-Man is surrounded by Dr. Octopus’ huge, metal arms, indicating Doc Ock’s presence in Now Way Home.
Lightning bolts slash across the movie poster, pointing at the presence of Electro, who appeared in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, starring Andrew Garfield. And streams of sand flying through the sky behind a crouching Spider-Man acknowledge that Sandman, one of two main villains featured in 2007’s Spider-Man 3.
Despite cameos from Doc Ock, Electro and Sandman in the film’s poster, the real villain is obviously The Green Goblin. Just over Spider-Man’s left shoulder, a translucent Green Goblin floats on his glider and appears to be headed right in his direction. The Green Goblin, played by Willem Dafoe in the first Spider-Man movie, 2002’s Spider-Man, and then by James Franco in the third film in the Maguire trilogy, is the most iconic Spider-Man villain and it will be interesting to see how Marvel weaves him into the already-complicated mutliverse.
Check out the poster for Spide-Man: No Way Home and let us know if there are any villains we missed.
