Category: Viral

J. Cole is the latest person to feature on Kevin Hart’s Hart To Heart talk show on Peacock. Cole’s episode debuted on the streamer this morning, July 27, and covered a lot of ground in 44 minutes.

The Dreamville boss gave pro-tips for combatting social media addiction, contextualized his standing in rap — he’s “more disconnected” from the discourse because he’s “fulfilled” and “grateful” — and professed his love for basketball before assessing rap as a whole.

“I think it’s fire. It’s a whole different ballgame — whole different crop of young superstars and styles, you know what I mean?” Cole said about 29 minutes in. “To me, I’ve been feeling like this for, like, maybe a year or two. It’s like — I hate to say it almost ’cause it sounds like pandering, but I really do think, like, man, there’s a lot of fire female rappers.”

He continued, “I feel like they’re doing some of the most exciting — commercially, they’re doing some of the most exciting [things]. They’re giving us a lot of fire moments. I feel like that’s something that wasn’t around when we was growing up. […] You always had one. Lil’ Kim, Foxy, Eve. There was always one, but there could never be more than one, almost, it felt like. Now, it’s like, bro, we getting moments and moments and moments. I think that’s hard.”

The rest of Cole’s conversation with Hart touched on his patience in business, “mindful” approach to spending his money, and his future goals outside of music.

Watch the Hart To Heart clip above or watch the full episode on Peacock.

Vladimir Putin’s dwindling supply of allies is no secret due to his war on Ukraine. Within Russia, those who support the Russian president are reported to be at civil war with each other and fearful of being accused of war crimes. Globally, Putin has tried to hand out fancy rings to sway other leaders to be on his side while others make fun of his shirtless horseback riding photoshoots.

Additionally, recent word of Putin’s behind-the-scenes behavior during the Wagner mutiny has been unflattering at best. He apparently froze and just sat there without being able to give input to regional leaders, and Putin also realizes that his war is not going well. He finally actually admitted that it’s an abysmal showing by Russia. And with Ukraine intensifying attacks lately, Putin could use some friends. Or allies. Or both.

So and as The Daily Beast reports, Putin spoke this week in St. Petersburg for the “Russia-Africa” summit — where only 17 out of 54 African nation heads of state were in attendance — and he offered up free grain due to Ukrainian exports not being available (because of a Putin maneuver). And he framed himself as a “benevolent overlord,” apparently, even though it’s his fault that a grain shortage could be afoot. Here’s one desperate Putin:

“We are expecting a record harvest this year. In the coming months, we will be ready to supply Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic, and Eritrea with 25,000-50,000 tons of grain free of charge. We will also provide free shipping for this product,” Putin said.

After tanking the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17 — which had helped to keep Ukraine’s huge farming industry afloat by allowing deliveries out of Black Sea ports — Moscow unleashed a string of attacks that decimated the country’s grain exports and wiped out supplies that the United Nations said could have fed hundreds of thousands of people.

As well, Putin attempted to blame “Western countries” for any obstruction of supply transport to African countries while claiming that Russia will never steer “the poorest countries” wrong and will provide for them. And are there any takers? Not yet. Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa spoke to the press, to whom he declared that his “food-secure” country is “not in any grain deficit of all” and therefore won’t be in need of this offer. So there.

(Via The Daily Beast & The Guardian)

Post Malone sometimes makes questionable decisions. The “Better Now” singer drank beer from a fan’s shoe in Australia. He once said he smokes up to 80 cigarettes a day.

On Wednesday (July 26), he engaged in a conversation with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe ahead of his new album Austin and revealed a habit that did not end well for him. “Yeah, I take shrooms,” he said. “I like shrooms. I like shrooms. Not as much as I used to. It’s really affected my short-term memory. Maybe it was just a stint of habitual overuse. Daily. But now I take a little bar of chocolate with my buddies, a little square chocolate and just laugh and laugh and laugh.”

He added, “I was talking to a ranger buddy of mine. He was a ranger and he was saying they’re giving it to guys for PTSD and stuff. And I was like, ‘Oh, that’s cool,’ because a lot of the times, a lot of pharmaceuticals, they have negative reactions often.”

“And it’s cool to see that they’re giving them this medicine and it’s actually working,” he said. “He was saying his buddy was going through it and it really helped him a lot. I don’t know. It’s interesting because it’s improved. It has improved my view on things.”

The status of Travis Scott’s concert at the Pyramids in Egypt was up in the air for some time before yesterday’s (July 26) official announcement that the show was canceled. The announcement explained, “We regret to inform you that the UTOPIA show, originally scheduled for July 28th at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt is cancelled. Unfortunately, despite highest efforts, complex production issues meant that the show could not be constructed in the desert. We understand that this news is disappointing and not the outcome any of us desired.”

Despite that, though, Scott still intends to go on with the show, but at a different time. After the cancellation news broke, Scott tweeted, “Egypt at the pyramids will happen But due to demand and detail logistics They just need a bit a time to set lay on lands. I will keep u posted on a date which will be soon love you alllll.”

It was previously reported that the Egyptian Musicians’ Syndicate was against Scott’s performance, saying in a statement, “After examining social media opinions and feedback, as well as the news circulating on search engines and social media platforms, which included authenticated images and information about peculiar rituals performed by the star during his performance, contradicting our authentic societal values and traditions, the Syndicate’s president and board of directors have decided to cancel the license issued for hosting this type of concert, which goes against the cultural identity of the Egyptian people.”

Remember the “I like turtles” kid? Well, he’s back, in Ninja Turtles form.

In 2007, 10-year-old Jonathan Ware entered the Internet Hall of Fame by declaring that he likes turtles while wearing zombie face paint during a local news broadcast. Sixteen years later, he’s back as part of the marketing blitz for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (which looks really good).

“We just got out of a screening for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and I’m with my friend, the Zombie. Jonathan, looking good. Jonathan just got an awesome face paint job. What did you think of the movie?” he’s asked in the video above. Jonathan replies, “I like turtles.” Still got it!

Paramount Pictures also released a new trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which you can watch below.

The movie stars Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, and Brady Noon as the turtles, as well as Jackie Chan as Splinter. “He is the spirit. His spirit is in the film already. The thing that made it, aside from he’s one of the greatest actors and martial artists and he’s so incredible, just aside from that, the thing that made us be like, yes, it has to be him, is he’s so warm,” director Jeff Rowe told Screen Rant. “Even when he’s punishing the turtles or being strict with them, you can’t be mad at him because he is so lovable.”

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem comes out on August 2nd.

Tori Kelly did not envision the release week of her EP, Tori, unfolding this way, but the “Missin U” singer choosing to spin her hospitalization due to blood clotting in her legs and lungs, as first reported by TMZ, into humbling perspective.

Kelly posted a handwritten letter to her Instagram and Twitter accounts on Thursday morning, July 27, which can be read below:

“Hi friends…

As you may have heard, I’m dealing with some unexpected health challenges. It’s been a scary few days but I can feel your prayers & can’t stop thinking about you. I’m feeling stronger now & hopeful but unfortunately there are still some things to uncover. I’m so grateful for the amazing doctors & nurses who have been looking after me.

Of course I’m heartbroken about all of the things I had planned for this week of releasing my EP, but I know my health must come first. Until I see you again, I still want you to enjoy a project that represents the happy place I’ve been in the last few years. I won’t let this hurdle prevent the music from being yours on Friday!

I love you all so much & I am truly overwhelmed by all of the love & care I have received. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Love,
Tori.”

Kelly’s message comes less than 24 hours after André Murillo, her husband since 2018, provided a glimpse of hope on his Instagram Story, writing, “Tori is smiling again and feeling stronger. Not fully out of the woods but we see the sun. Just waiting on a few more answers. Your love and kindness has been overwhelming. Thank you so so much! [Red heart emoji]”

TMZ’s initial report on July 24 stated that the two-time Grammy winner had been at dinner with her friends in downtown Los Angeles “when her heart started beating really fast,” and she lost consciousness “for a while.”

“We’re told Tori’s getting care in the ICU, doctors have discovered clots in Tori’s legs and her lungs and are still working to determine if any clots are around her heart,” TMZ relayed at the time. “The singer’s been in and out of consciousness during her hospitalization.”

While Kelly will not be able to celebrate the arrival of Tori with her scheduled performance at The Roxy in LA on Friday (July 28), it seems she has trended in a positive direction that wasn’t guaranteed when the week began.

Did the Kens need a dance-off to settle their differences in real life, too?

Simu Liu, who plays one of the many Kens in Barbie, addressed the awkward video where his co-star Ryan Gosling (another Ken) appears to tell him to not put his hand on his back while posing on the red carpet.

“I’d beach off with this Kenadian again in a heartbeat,” the Shang-Chi actor wrote in an Instagram Story, along with a photo of himself and Gosling from the event the video was taken. “He is the best human in every way, especially when he jokes around with us on the carpet and on set, infecting all of us with his kenergy.” Liu added, “Now let’s get back to the issues that matter, like supporting our striking actors and writers fighting for fair wages!”

Liu (or Marvel’s Simu Liu, as fans of The Other Two know him) also recently caught a Taylor Swift concert in Seattle. “what a night in seattle!!! i was absolutely BLOWN away by the eras tour, by taylor and by all of the amazing and kind swifties that stopped by the tent to say hello and give a bracelet. you really showed me that kindness always wins. bravo!!!” he tweeted.

Gosling probably took in a Matchbox Twenty show the same night.

(Via E! Online)

The world learned yesterday that iconic Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor died at 56 years old. Shortly before her death, though, she filmed and shared a video in which she talks about making new music.

The official Twitter account for O’Connor is @SineadOConnor, but a recent pinned tweet directs to her more personal account, @786OmShahid. There were apparently some who were unsure about the legitimacy of the @786OmShahid account, so on July 9, O’Connor verified her identity by sharing what would end up being one of the final videos of her during her lifetime (perhaps the final one).

In the video, she starts, “I said I’ll make a video because some of you are saying you don’t believe it’s my account: it is my account. But fret not, I’m going to be a good girl [laughs].” After talking some about her son’s 2022 death, she showed off her London apartment. That included a new acoustic guitar hanging on the wall that she said she was “going to write some tunes on.”

In 2021, O’Connor changed her mind multiple times about leaving music, first retiring, then backtracking, then retiring again. Her final album was 2014’s I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss. In 2020, she released the single “Trouble Of The World,” and in 2022, she featured on “Tears From The Moon” by Conjure One.

The cause of O’Connor’s death has not yet been determined, but The Guardian reports that per a statement from Metropolitan police, “The death is not being treated as suspicious.” A statement shared by O’Connor’s family reads, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

In 2015, Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge founded an entertainment company called To The Stars, which later expanded to become To The Stars… Academy Of Arts & Sciences. That version of the company famously got into extraterrestrial research, and now it’s being credited for reinvigorating interest in and bringing legitimacy to UFO studies. In fact, DeLonge and To The Stars were mentioned during this week’s congressional UFO hearings, and DeLonge is pretty happy about it.

He wrote on Instagram yesterday (July 26), “The UFO Hearings today made history. I am so proud of the three witnesses today that blew the lid off the UFO secrecy that has been intact for decades. [Ryan] Graves, [David] Fravor and [David] Grusch are HEROES. I appreciated the shout-out during the hearing, but so many were involved with @tothestars.media to make this happen.”

He then hocked some merch, concluding, “Get your shirt now, and remember that we at To The Stars changed the world. Www.ToThestars.Media.”

As for the DeLonge mention, that came via a statement from Fravor, a retired US Navy commander. He said:

“In the weeks that passed, I was made aware that Lue [Elizondo] had left the Pentagon in protest and joined forces with Tom Delonge, Chris Mellon, Steve Justice, and others to form To The Stars Academy. It was this organization that pressed the issue with leading industry experts and USG officials, worked with Leslie Keane, Ralph Blumenthal, and Helene Cooper to publish the articles in the New York Times in December 2017 admitting the USG was looking at UAPs and removed the stigma of the UFO topic, which led to us being here today.

Those articles opened a door for the government and the public that cannot be closed. It has led to an interest from our elected officials who are not focused on ‘little green men’ but on figuring out what these craft are, where are they from, the technology they possess, and how do they operate.”

Elsewhere, DeLonge shared somebody’s tweet that reads, “I used to have a friend that would say that Tom DeLonge being into aliens was something you would only hear out of a movie and she was so right bc this movie just got to the good part where the guy who’s nuts is actually not nuts and is the one who was right all along.” DeLonge added, “And, I have a lot more to say [sunglasses emoji].”

Blink-182 is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Last July, Animal Collective performed “King’s Walk” during their impressive NPR “Tiny Desk (Home) Concert,” which followed their album Time Skiffs. Uproxx‘s Steven Hyden called that one the quartet’s “comeback record.”

By October 2022, Animal Collective canceled their European and UK tour dates scheduled for November because of “obstacles related to COVID and the economy.” It set them up for another comeback, which they seem primed to deliver in the form of Isn’t It Now?, revealed on Wednesday, July 26, as Animal Collective’s next album due out September 29.

The announcement was coupled with the release of “Soul Capturer.” A press release detailed the song’s inspiration, explaining, “An anthem for our existential online malaise, it calls to mind whatever it is that seduces you — drugs, sex, an old friend you know better than to trust, and absolutely and unequivocally the Internet and how it can make you feel so low about even your absolute highs.”

The press release also notes that Isn’t It Now?‘s 64-minute runtime makes it “the longest Animal Collective album ever.” Check out the album cover art and tracklist below.

1. “Soul Capturer”
2. “Genie’s Open”
3. “Broke Zodiac”
4. “Magicians From Baltimore”
5. “Defeat”
6. “Gem & I”
7. “Stride Rite”
8. “All The Clubs Are Broken”
9. “King’s Walk”

Isn’t It Now? is out 9/29 via Domino. Find more information here.