Category: Worldwide

It’s barely been a week, and already Ted Cruz is cracking jokes about his tone-deaf trip to Cancun while the state of Texas laid paralyzed from a freak winter storm. While speaking at CPAC in Orlando, Florida on Friday (dude just can’t resist a vacation), Cruz thought it was a good time to test out his new material on the conservative crowd after firing off a Zodiac Killer joke earlier in the week about his latest round of disastrous headlines. Immediately after taking the stage at CPAC Cruz yelled, “Orlando is awesome,” before quipping, “It’s not as nice as Cancun.” Noticeably, not even the audience of Republicans laughed, and it didn’t take long for video of Cruz’s “stand-up special” to hit social media, where the Texas senator was roasted all over again for abandoning his constituents to freeze while going for days without power and water.

Cruz’s trip to Cancun isn’t just getting mocked by random people on Twitter. In a bad sign for his presidential ambitions, Cruz is being trolled by his own colleagues. When arriving at the congressional gym on Wednesday, senators found printed-out memes taped to Cruz’s locker along with messages written in Spanish welcoming him back to the United States. Via NBC News:

The rendering featured a manipulated photo of Cruz from his well-documented trip to Mexico, dragging his luggage across an arctic landscape while holding a tropical cocktail garnished with a slice of fruit in his other hand. He is shown walking toward an image of a masked Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. with his arms crossed and wearing striped, knitted gloves — a pose famously captured during January’s inauguration.

Cruz reportedly let the prank go without filing a complaint.

(Via The Recount)

Yesterday, the horrific news that some thieves had shot Lady Gaga’s dog walker in order to steal her dogs, and the walker was in the hospital in critical condition. Gaga offered a $500,000 reward for the return of her dogs “no questions asked,” and her father Joe Germanotta spoke with Fox News about the missing pitbulls, Koji and Gustav, asking fans to help them “help us catch these creeps.”

Gaga has not issued a public statement, and is busy making sure her dog walker, Ryan Fischer, is ok following the unexpectedly violent situation. Fischer is expected to make a full recovery, and according to TMZ, his family issued a statement of thanks for Gaga’s support. Check out their statement below:

Ryan is receiving extraordinary care in the hospital right now and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery. We cannot possibly say enough to thank all of the first responders, nurses and doctors who have worked so tirelessly to care for Ryan. Of course, we also want to thank Lady Gaga who has shown nothing but non-stop love and concern for Ryan and our family right from the outset. Ryan loves Gustavo and Koji as much as Lady Gaga does; so we join in her plea for their safe return.

Wishing a speedy recovery to Ryan, and the quick return of Gaga’s dogs.

Video game documentaries seem to be all the rage lately, as the age of the industry itself has allowed for some introspection on how it became a billion-dollar business with gigantic influence over modern culture. The latest is a look at Nintendo’s rise to gaming dominance in the industry’s early days.

Playing With Power: The Nintendo Story, is a five-episode docuseries about the rise of Nintendo in Japan and its takeover of the gaming industry in America. Narrated by Sean Astin, the story is also told by a number of people from the gaming industry, such as head of Xbox Phil Spencer and former Nintendo CEO Reggie Fils-Aimé.

Nintendo’s rise from playing card maker to iconic video game maker was covered in series like High Score on Netflix, but the Crackle series promises a thorough exploration of the Nintendo story.

In this exclusive clip from the series, Playing With Power sets the scene for the start of the console wars which were sparked when Service Games, or Sega, decided to enter the gaming fray in a big way.

As laid out in the clip, Nintendo was a bit “drunk on their own success” and didn’t really anticipate the challenge that Sega and its Genesis console — not to mention a spunky blue hedgehog named Sonic — would offer in the years to come.

Playing With Power: The Nintendo Story premieres on Crackle on March 1.

Six months ago, Tobe Nwigwe debuted the video for his song “Eat” as part of an extensive and seemingly endless string of self-released singles showcasing the self-contained creative factory he’s created with his wife Fat, business partner/producer Lanell Grant, and director Nate Edwards. Last night, they brought their elaborate creations to late-night television for the first time, performing “Eat” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and making sure it was an experience none of the show’s viewers will ever forget.

The performance, which was pre-taped due to COVID-19 restrictions, featured an eye-catching mod look, placing each of Tobe’s band members on a separate, social-distancing-approved circular stage, as masked models cat-walked through the background, then hit the spacious floor for another of Tobe’s elegantly-choreographed routines. Meanwhile, Tobe’s fit did as much talking as his bars did, as he flexed a massive puffer trench bearing the likenesses of Breonna Taylor and revolutionary Fred Hampton under the slogan “It’s hard to sleep these days.” Both Hampton and Taylor were killed by law enforcement officers in their sleep during raids on their homes.

Tobe’s ongoing release campaign has so far included songs like “The Truth,” “Pistol,” and “Tundah Fiyah” and featured guests like Big KRIT, Black Thought, Bun B, D Smoke, and Trae The Truth. Tobe also performed a cover of Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes’ 1975 classic “Wake Up Everybody.” You can watch below.

Watch Tobe’s late-night debut above.

Earlier this week, St. Vincent teased an album that seems to be called Daddy’s Home. That title has yet to be confirmed, but Annie Clark has discussed the album, including the inspiration behind the (again, currently unconfirmed) album title.

In an interview for the first edition of The New Cue — a new newsletter from former Q Magazine editors Ted Kessler, Chris Catchpole, and Niall Doherty — Clark said, “So the nuts and bolts of it is like, my dad got out of prison in 2019. He’d been in for ten years. My first song for it was a story about when I used to go visit him and I would sign crumpled-up Target receipts somebody had left in the visitation room. And, of course, it’s incredibly sad, but it’s also incredibly absurd so the whole family has found a way to laugh about it. So that was the impetus, I guess.”

She also spoke about the sound of the album, saying it’s “the sound of being down and out Downtown in New York, 1973” and less rigid than Masseduction:

“I would say it’s the sound of being down and out downtown in New York, 1973. Glamour that hasn’t slept for three days. In hindsight, I realized that the Masseduction and tour was so incredibly strict, whether it was the outfits I was wearing that literally constricted me, to the show being tight and the music being angular and rigid. When I wrapped that, I was like, ‘Oh, I just want things that are fluid and wiggly and I want this music to look like a Cassavetes film.’ I wanted it to be warm tones and not really distorted, to tell these stories of flawed people being flawed and doing the best they can. Which is kind of what my life is.

I went back to these records that I probably listened to more in my life than at any other time. Music made in New York from 1971 to ’76, typically post-flower child, kick the hippie idealism out of it, America’s in a recession but pre-disco, the sort of gritty, raw, wiggly nihilistic part of that. It’s not a glamorous time, there’s a lot of dirt under the fingernails. It was really about feel and vibe but with song and stories.”

Clark discussed working with Jack Antonoff as well, saying, “I started writing these songs and took a couple to Jack Antonoff. was in Electric Lady Studios in New York and wanted to do this sleazy, grimy record and Jack was fully on board. He whipped out some great Wurlitzer playing, super funky, then he’d get on the drums and do totally the right vibe. And then he was playing this f*cking awesome bass, ripping it. […] It was cool to get to see Jack bust out these chops. And same here, I actually have some deep understanding of harmony that I keep to myself most of the time but here I bust it out.”

Check out the full interview here.

Ventura rapper Kyle takes a poppy turn on his newest song, “But Cha” featuring singer/songwriter Josh Golden. Released with an anime-inspired lyrics video, “But Cha” finds Kyle serenading his dream girl, reassuring her that he intends to stick with her for the long haul. “Your stock is goin’ through the roof and I’m investin’,” he winks. “No multiple-choice, ain’t nobody to choose.”

Kyle’s latest arrives eight months after his last album, 2020’s See You When I Am Famous!!!!!!!!!!!!, his second major-label album after 2018’s Light Of Mine. While Kyle has always embraced sunnier production and heartfelt themes, “But Cha” focuses even more on melody and lighter tones, much like Famous lead single “What It Is” minus the melancholy.

The turnaround time on his new song is impressive, considering he spent much of the year promoting Famous with videos like “Money Now” and “See You When I’m Famous” in the midst of pandemic precautions. He also managed to find time to work on season two of his surreal animated variety show Sugar & Toys, so being able to start prepping a new project just goes to show how committed he’s been through the past, wild year.

Listen to “But Cha” above.

Kyle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

In arguably the greatest Chappelle’s Show sketch — and therefore, one of the greatest comedy sketches period — Charlie Murphy recounted the time he was beaten in a game of pickup basketball by Prince (it’s a true story). You know it by heart: “Assemble your crew, I’ll be outside,” “Game, blouses,” “…pancakes.” The Purple One himself was a big fan of the sketch, as was Eddie Murphy. The Coming 2 America star was also there that night, and he shared his side of the story on Thursday’s episode of The Tonight Show.

“That is totally and absolutely accurate,” Murphy told host Jimmy Fallon about the sketch. “We had on our club clothes and Prince had on that outfit that was in the ‘Kiss’ video.” The actor said that Prince approached him and his brother, who passed away in 2017, and asked, “Yo, want to play some basketball?” They had the understandable reaction: “What the f*ck?” Murphy continued, adding a new detail to the pickup game:

“My brother was like, ‘Okay, it’s going to be shirts against blouses.’ The blouses won, they beat the sh*t out of us. You know why I think? We had one dude on our squad who could play named Larry and he didn’t have no shoes, so Prince gave him some sneakers. And Prince wore maybe like two, three sizes smaller than Larry, but Larry was so excited to have Prince’s sneakers on. He put those tiny sneakers on his feet, so he couldn’t do his game right. So we lost. The one dude that could play, Prince’s shoes had him shutdown, so he couldn’t excuse.”

There’s nothing in the rulebook that says Prince can’t give someone shoes that are too small to gain a competitive advatnage. You can watch Murphy’s chat with Fallon above.

Between the coronavirus pandemic and social unrest, the past 12 months have been tough. Now, Justin Bieber wants to play a small part in helping the world to heal with his newly announced album, Justice.

Bieber’s sixth album drops on March 19 and he says of it:

“In a time when there’s so much wrong with this broken planet, we all crave healing — and justice — for humanity. In creating this album, my goal is to make music that will provide comfort; to make songs that people can relate to, and connect to, so they feel less alone. Suffering, injustice and pain can leave people feeling helpless. Music is a great way of reminding each other that we aren’t alone. Music can be a way to relate to one another and connect with one another. I know that I cannot simply solve injustice by making music, but I do know that if we all do our part by using our gifts to serve this planet, and each other, that we are that much closer to being united. This is me doing a small part. My part. I want to continue the conversation of what justice looks like so we can continue to heal.”

There’s no announced tracklist yet, but press materials note the album will feature Bieber’s recent singles: “Holy” featuring Chance The Rapper, “Lonely” featuring Benny Blanco, and “Anyone” (all of which he performed during a recent livestream).

Justice is out 3/19 via RBMG/Def Jam Recordings. Pre-order it here.

After months of rumors about the direction of the character, Warner Bros. is finally moving ahead with a Superman reboot written by Ta-Nehisi Coates and produced by J.J. Abrams. There is no director attached to the film yet, and more notably, the search for a new actor to play the classic DC Comics character will start at a later date, which seemingly suggests that Man of Steel star Henry Cavill will not be returning. (However, fans can see Cavill’s Superman one last time in the upcoming Snyder Cut release.) Shadow and Act was the first to break the news (which was confirmed by Deadline) of the reboot, along with a statement from Coates:

“To be invited into the DC Extended Universe by Warner Bros., DC Films and Bad Robot is an honor,” said Coates in a statement received only by Shadow and Act. “I look forward to meaningfully adding to the legacy of America’s most iconic mythic hero.”

Abrams also gave S&A an statement saying there’s a “new, powerful and moving Superman story yet to be told” and he calls Coates’ writing for the new film “brilliant.” While known for his powerful, in-depth books and essays on race that inspired Damon Lindelof’s Watchmen for HBO, Coates is no stranger to the superhero world albeit for the competition. Coates has delivered critically acclaimed work for Marvel Comics after first tackling Black Panther before moving onto Captain America. Given that Cap’s character traits closely match those of Superman, Coates experience with the Marvel hero makes him even more primed to tackle a new cinematic take on the Man of Steel.

(Via Shadow and Act & Deadline)

Pokemon’s presence on the Nintendo Switch is opening up in a big way as part of a 25th anniversary celebration for the legendary RPG series. The Pokemon Company held a livestream event on Friday detailing new games, including remakes of two handheld classics. But the biggest news is a new open world RPG set in the Sinnoh region well before the events of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl.

Before that, though, the event highlighted two remakes of those 2006 GameBoy classics: Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

Those games, however, will now get a prequel with a slightly different twist. Friday also brought word of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, an open-world RPG

“This is a tale from a long, long time ago. When the Sinnoh region was a vast wilderness,” a narrator says, laying out a less developed human society long before Pokemon trainers and Leagues.

The trailer shows a trainer diving into a thick brush, aiming a Pokeball at a faraway Shinx and throwing it. There are battles and Pokemon in the player’s control, but it’s certainly a departure from more traditional Pokemon games. Sword and Shield, which were released in 2019, introduced the concept of a Wild Area that had Pokemon roaming free that could spark encounters. Arceus appears to be the next evolution of that concept according to the game’s description.

As trainers explore the natural expanses in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, they’ll encounter pokémon that call these grand vistas home. To catch wild pokémon, players can study the pokémon’s behaviors, sneak up to them, then throw poké balls. Players can also battle wild Pokémon with their ally pokémon. By throwing the poké ball holding their ally pokémon near a wild pokémon, players will seamlessly enter battle. This new gameplay angle is intended to provide trainers with an immersive experience.

The event also showed off some new Pokemon Snap gameplay on Friday.

That’s a lot of Pokemon, which is great news for fans. But while Snap is expected to hit the Switch in April, we won’t see Arceus until at least 2022.