After shaking up the K-pop industry and having MOOMOO (MAMAMOO fans) on their toes with ongoing discussions on contract renewals last year, K-pop’s power vocal group returns with all members present — even when one member (Wheein) is no longer under the label.
Earlier today, MAMAMOO — consisting of members Solar, Moonbyul, Hwasa, and Wheein — released their twelfth EP, MIC ON, including the title track “Illella.” Compared to their past releases in the last eight years, “Illella” becomes a post-summer anthem as the quartet gives an alluring flair on a reggae beat that transitions into a dancehall and moombahton dance break. In the midst of body rolls, seductive smirks, and lyrics that insinuate a very intimate night ahead — “Dark night / But restlessness entails / Go all out, don’t stop / Come a bit closer / We’re savages, there’s no stopping us / Roaring like beasts full of rage” — MAMAMOO’s comeback stays consistent with mature concepts that would deem them more of a women group than a girl group.
According to Yonhap News Agency, “Illella” is a Korean phrase meaning “You might make it big,” or in the context of MAMAMOO, “Something’s about to break.”
In addition to the EP and single release, its been reported the leading third-generation group will hold concerts in South Korea and abroad until early next year, with dates and locations soon to be confirmed.
October is proving to be a powerful month for the best new pop music. In the next few weeks, The 1975, Carly Rae Jepsen, Taylor Swift, Tove Lo, and more will all have brand new albums out. And with those releases come incredible singles, as well as some brand new songs… including one that appears in the soundtrack for a certain crocodile kids movie.
Jepsen’s collaboration with Wainwright seamlessly blends their vocals to create a sleek disco-influenced song. By the time the bridge hits, if you’re not on the dance floor, you’re doing it completely wrong. As someone whose familiarity with Wainwright only extends to his piano ballads, this duo teaming up has proven to be a surprising-yet-rewarding choice.
Maisie Peters – “Not Another Rockstar”
Peters has proven she isn’t playing around with this one. Teased by early snippets of the song, “Not Another Rockstar” somehow exceeds the fans’ already impressed expectations. By blending her sense of immersive storytelling in a pop-rock anthem about the downsides of dating yet another rockstar, Peters continues to build anticipation for her sophomore album — this being the latest in a string in equally, if not increasingly, impressive singles.
Shawn Mendes – “Carried Away”
Mendes made this song for the soundtrack of Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile — a children’s film where he voices the title character. Still, the piano ballad shows that he isn’t toning down his talent for a promotional single, and eventually transforms in a soaring pop song with the beat drop in the second verse. “We just let ourselves get carried away,” he sings, backed by layered vocals and an orchestral instrumental.
Jamie – “3D Woman”
“3D Woman” is an instant confidence booster about self-love. “Good things come in threes,” Jamie uses in the chorus as just one of many lines to draw listeners in. Although you might be wishing it was just a little bit longer, it’s only because Jamie’s enthusiastic energy pulls you in so fast.
Joshua Bassett – “Would You Love Me Now”
Bassett‘s somber vocals are a standout on “Would You Love Me Now,” which tells the story of wondering what it’d be like to see a lost love again. “Take me back to when we were young again, darling / Would you love me now, after everything? Would you let me in?” he ponders. By tapping into his power of retrospection (ex: on songs like “Doppleganger”), Bassett manages to make his best bops.
Gracie Abrams – “Difficult”
On a similar note, Gracie Abrams returned this week with a sad banger in “Difficult.” A collaboration with Aaron Dessner, Abrams contemplates everything from growing up and moving out to trying therapy. “I know spiraling is miserable, I should probably go back home,” she notes of her emotional struggle in the chorus. “Was it something I said that colored you blue?” Abrams is at her best when writing strong lyrics through a stream of consciousness.
Gryffin feat. Tinashe – “Scandalous”
Gryffin enlisted Tinashe for the lead vocals on “Scandalous,” a brilliant choice for a bona-fide banger. The electronic instrumental’s energy never once falters. Given Gryffin’s credits for collaborations with artists such as Tove Lo (“Talking Body”) and Years & Years, this has the potential for a massive radio crossover.. or at least the clubs. The only downside is it makes you wish it was summer again.
Stray Kids – “Case 143”
A song from Stray Kids‘ new album, Maxident, “Case 143” — which translates numerically to “I love you” — is strictly for all the simps out there. Whether you’re in a relationship or fall a little in love with everyone you meet, it’s an upbeat romantic track that encapsulates all of those emotions.
Charlie Puth – “No More Drama”
Charlie Puth closes his new album with a carefree take on “No More Drama,” a track that seems to tie the record up nicely. It’s about realizing an ex is better out of your life than in it. We call that growth!
Nessa Barrett – “Tired Of California”
Nessa Barrett’s new song “Tired Of California” is an ode to everything to loath about Los Angeles — from superficial conversations to “legal toxins.” Driven by a hypnotizing drum beat, the melody manages to find a way into my brain, even days after listening. “I’m so tired of California, I’m so tired of LA,” Barrett makes you sing along, even if you’ve never had an experience in the Golden State.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Say what you will about Rudy Giuliani: Though the man sure does know how to stink up a bathroom, he’s also been a pretty solid ride-or-die for Donald Trump who didn’t just along with the former president’s wild schemes, but even encouraged them (possibly while inebriated). The same, however, cannot necessarily be said about Christina Bobb — the Trump lawyer who, back in June, signed a letter declaring that the former president had returned all sensitive documents that had been in his possession.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it turns out that wasn’t true. And rather than go down with the gaudy, gold-gilded ship that is Donald Trump, NBC News reports that Bobb is talking to the feds — and naming names.
Sources claim that, on Friday, Bobb spoke with federal investigators looking into the Mar-a-Lago case, and offered up the names of two other attorneys who, back in June, were involved with (incorrectly) certifying that Trump had indeed turned over all the sensitive materials he had in his possession. It was only when the FBI determined these statements to be false that they executed a search warrant at the former president’s Florida home/golf club, where they discovered more than 100 more classified documents.
While Bobb did sign the June letter, now — perhaps sensing that indictments could be forthcoming — she is doing her best to distance herself from the substance of that missive. According to NBC News:
Bobb, who was Trump’s custodian of record at the time, did not draft the statement, according to the three sources who do not want to comment publicly because of the sensitive nature of the sprawling federal investigation.
Instead, Trump’s lead lawyer in the case at the time, Evan Corcoran, drafted it and told her to sign it, Bobb told investigators according to the sources. Bobb also spoke to investigators about Trump legal adviser Boris Epshteyn, who she said did not help draft the statement but was minimally involved in discussions about the records, according to the sources.
Bobb has reportedly attempted to make it clear to the FBI that she refused to sign the letter until a disclaimer was added that she was only signing this statement as fact “based upon the information that has been provided” to her. “She had to insist on that disclaimer twice before she signed it,” the source claimed.
The source also said that Bobb spoke with the FBI of her own volition, and did not have any sort of immunity deal. “She is not criminally liable,” according to the source. “She is not going to be charged. She is not pointing fingers. She is simply a witness for the truth.”
Although Pusha T has seen some rather impressive solo success over the years, fans can’t help but wonder about a Clipse reunion. The Virginia brother duo has teased a potential comeback a few times in 2022, most notably by teaming up for group performances at Pharrell’s Something In The Water Festival and the BET Hip-Hop Awards, but the status of a full-length project remains murky. Recent collaborations on Pusha’s new album It’s Almost Dry and Nigo’s I Know Nigo have only stimulated more anticipation for a Clipse return, but according to Pusha, it’s all contingent on his brother.
In a new cover story for Rolling Stone, Pusha contemplates the possibility of a reunion. He says, “I push the button every so often. I’m like, ‘Yo, listen to what I just made! We can really do this!’ — and he brushes me off.… If I had it my way, it would be the Clipse. It’s really up to my brother.”
It’s probably for the best, then, that Malice isn’t very active on social media (his last tweet was in the first half of July while his Instagram consists mostly of gym videos), or fans wouldn’t let him hear the end of it. Meanwhile, Pusha appears to be locked in even as a solo act; elsewhere in the feature, he says he’s working on new material with Pharrell, promising “the giggles are even more evil than they were the last time.”
Atlanta rapper JID has had his hand full since releasing The Forever Story back in August. Luckily for fans, in an exciting development, the Dreamville artist has announced he will be co-headlining the tour with St. Louis rapper Smino. Their Luv is 4Ever Tour is set to kick off in January 2023.
The cross-continent tour will take place in 32 cities, with stops including New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Toronto. The collaborative effort comes at an excellent time for the rappers, even more so with JID’s recently-released album, The Forever Story, and Smino’s upcoming LP, Luv 4 Rent, set to release later this month.
Following the release of pre-sale tickets on Wednesday, October 12th, tickets will be available on Friday, October 14th.
All dates for the Luv is 4Ever Tour are listed below.
01/22/2023 — Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre
01/24/2023 — Vancouver, BC @ PNE Forum
01/26/2023 — Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
01/28/2023 — Oakland, CA @ The Fox
01/31/2023 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
02/02/2023 — San Diego, CA @ SOMA San Diego
02/03/2023 — Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
02/08/2023 — Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
02/10/2023 — Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
02/13/2023 — Dallas, TX @ South Side Ballroom
02/14/2023 — Austin, TX @ Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
02/15/2023 — San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre
02/16/2023 — Houston, TX @ Bayou Music Center
02/18/2023 — Atlanta, GA @ Coca-Cola Roxy
02/21/2023 — St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
02/22/2023 — Miami, FL @ Oasis Wynwood
02/24/2023 — Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
02/26/2023 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring
03/01/2023 — Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
03/03/2023 — New York, NY @ Terminal 5
03/07/2023 — Wallingford, CT @ Dome at Toyota Oakdale Theatre
03/09/2023 — Boston, MA @ House of Blues Boston
03/12/2023 — Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
03/15/2023 — Toronto, ON @ HISTORY
03/17/2023 — Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
03/18/2023 — Grand Rapids, MI @ GLC Live at 20 Monroe
03/21/2023 — Chicago, IL @ Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
03/23/2023 — Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
03/24/2023 — Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore Minneapolis
03/25/2023 — Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
03/28/2023 — Cincinnati, OH @ The Andrew J Brady Music Center
03/29/2023 — Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
Brad Pitt is currently in the headlines for two reasons: his previous relationship with Angelina Jolie, who claims that the actor verbally and physically assaulted her and their kids, and his alleged current relationship with Emily Ratajkowski. The model and author has been spotted with Pitt, and they’ve “had a few dates” together, a source told People.
With the rumors of her potential romance with Pitt swirling, Ratajkowski took to TikTok to discuss the #MeToo movement. “#MeToo hasn’t changed things in the world,” she said. “Cancel culture hasn’t changed things. All we have now are men who are afraid of consequences.” She added, “As a parent, I can tell you when you want to teach your child something like not to hit other kids, you don’t want them to not hit other kids because they’re scared of a time out.” The irony of Ratajkowski potentially dating a guy who’s been accused of hitting his then-wife and children was not lost on her followers.
BuzzFeed Newsreports that “while many of Emily’s followers agreed with what she was saying, the vast majority couldn’t help but question her stance as they pointed out that she has been romantically linked to Brad Pitt in recent months.”
One user responded to Ratajkowski’s TikTok video with, “I agree with you but it feels weird listening to you talk about this when you’ve been seen recently with brad pitt,” while another commented, “Girl you’re literally dating brad pitt.” There are plenty more: “Aren’t you dating Brad Pitt? I’m confused.” “omg just like brad pitt.” “tell brad not us.”
It is perhaps unsurprising that Emily’s latest TikTok has rubbed viewers up the wrong way, with one user acknowledging that while neither Brad or Emily have confirmed the growing reports, Emily should clarify if there is no truth to them.
By now you’ve probably heard that Donald Trump was on the campaign trail over the weekend, making stops in both Arizona and Nevada where he blathered on about other former presidents who also took millions of (de?)classified documents when they left office (spoiler: they didn’t) and bragged about how January 6th brought his biggest crowd ever. If you didn’t know any better, you would understandably think that these were official Trump rallies. Except they weren’t. And Seth Meyers, for one, is not the least bit surprised that Trump — who was supposed to be out there stumping for his fellow Republicans in key battleground states — instead made his stops all about Trump.
On Monday night, Meyers told viewers that “even though Trump is theoretically supposed to be there to campaign for other candidates, he always — without exception — makes it about himself. He’s like the best man at a wedding who gives a drunken toast about how awesome he is.”
While in Carson Valley in Northern Nevada on Saturday, for example, Trump — who mispronounced local congressman Mark Amodei’s last name — literally stole the stage from senatorial candidate Adam Laxalt and wannabe governor Joe Lombardo, both of whom got up to speak with Trump holding court as the unofficial emcee. “After Lombardo’s remarks, he could be heard asking Trump if he should stay up on stage with him,” Meyers said, “and I want you to guess Trump’s response.”
It wasn’t just a “no,” by the way. It was: “No, you go ahead down.” Meyers was really more surprised that Lombardo even thought to ask:
You thought Donald Trump would share a stage with you? This is a guy who once literally shoved another world leader at a NATO Summit to get to the front of the group. I’m shocked Trump didn’t pick Lombardo up over his head and throw him off the stage WWE-style.
Also, I love how sheepishly he asked Trump if he should stay up there with him. He’s like an actor asking a table of producers if he can audition a second time:
‘Do you want me to do that line again?’
‘Uh, no. You can just get the f**k on outta here. And you can actually take the headshot!’
On Sunday, Trump was in Arizona to try and pump up the campaigns of aspiring senator Blake Masters and batshit crazy MAGA/gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. “But again, he could not help but rant about his own problems,” Meyers explained. “Including the federal investigation into the classified documents he stole from the White House.”
“Now, any normal person in that situation might stay out of the spotlight. Or, at the very least, avoid talking about the case in public,” Meyers continued But Trump, as we all know, is not normal. And during that rally in Arizona Trump decided just essentially to confess.” And to rattle off the list of other former presidents who stole classified documents — including, according to Trump, the late George H.W. Bush, who “took millions of documents to a former bowling alley and a former Chinese restaurant, where they combined them, so they’re in a bowling alley/Chinese restaurant.” Which Meyers called a “truly insane story.”
The remix of Diddy and Bryson Tiller’s “Gotta Move On” featuring Ashanti and Yung Miami is making the rounds. It was premiered on Hot 97’s Funk Flex, per HipHopDX, and Diddy discussed the record on The Breakfast Club last week.
“Yung Miami was really supposed to just do it for a challenge. She wanted to do the open mic challenge. She really loved the record,” Diddy explained. “But Ashanti … I think that music and art could give you a chance to speak your mind when it comes to the love territory. After I seen Irv [Gotti] do his thing, and I was just thinking, I was like, Sis may wanna express herself on this song.”
Charlamagne Tha God asked if the “Gotta Move On” remix is Ashanti’s rebuttal to Irv Gotti’s August comments on Drink Champs about his past relationship with Ashanti and bitterly finding out she was dating Nelly. “Yeah, like, we talk about whatever’s going through our lives,” Diddy responded. “And Irv is my man, and I knew Ashanti before. Ashanti was, like, 14. And I just felt like with the music, I’m trying to get real truth out the music. I was calling different that maybe had public relationships because when I made the record, it was from my public relationship and me having to move on.”
Ashanti seems to have gladly taken the opportunity to air her annoyance toward Gotti. “You thought that you could have her on the weekends,” she sings in her verse. “Now you mad ’cause I told you I was leaving / I’m gone, I’m done … It’s giving obsessed, it’s giving me stressed, it’s giving me pressed / It’s giving this missing the best / But it’s been 20 years / Please say less … Yeah, you gotta move on.”
Gotti talked about his relationship with Ashanti from two decades ago while promoting his BET Murder Inc. documentary. The tea began spilling around the 52-minute mark of the 3-plus-hour episode of Drink Champs when Gotti explained how Ashanti’s “Happy” record “came about because of our energy,” which he claimed he isn’t hung up on anymore but clearly is.
Gotti also claimed he reached out to Ashanti to “tell her side of the story” for the Murder Inc. doc, “but she’s never gonna do that because she’s never gonna say she was in love with me [and] she’s never gonna say we was together.”
Gotta received immediate blowback for his comments, including from Ja Rule, who was on the Drink Champs episode with him. To catch up on all the drama, watch Diddy on Breakfast Club or Gotti on Drink Champs below.
If anyone down at Mar-a-Lago is listening, please, restrict Donald Trump’s internet access.
The twice-impeached former president — who’s currently under investigation by the DOJ for practically stealing classified documents before he left the White House for good — has recently discovered the 2002 film Poolhall Junkies and it caused him to post a bizarre video on his Truth Social platform. The clip is set to Christopher Walken’s monologue in the film about a lion (the king of the jungle) who gets fed up with all of the other animals bothering him and eventually “eats everything in his path.” The full speech featured in the video is below. Spoiler alert: Trump believes he’s the lion Walken is talking about here.
Via Mediaite, here’s the Walken-declared transcript:
You got this lion. He’s the king of the jungle, huge mane out to here. He’s laying under a tree, in the middle of Africa. He’s so big, it’s so hot. He doesn’t want to move.
Now the little lions come, they start messing with him. Biting his tail, biting his ears. He doesn’t do anything.
The lioness, she starts messing with him. Coming over, making trouble. Still nothing.
Now the other animals, they notice this. They start to move in. The jackals; hyenas. They’re barking at him, laughing at him. They nip his toes, and eat the food that’s in his domain. They do this, then they get closer and closer, bolder and bolder.
Till one day, that lion gets up and tears the shit out of everybody. Runs like the wind, eats everything in his path. Cause every once in a while, the lion has to show the jackals, who he is.
Now to set the scene.
The first half of the speech plays as Trump is sworn into office, with clips of his kids and his wife, Melania — so we guess he’s got a bit of beef with his own family as well if this nonsensical video is anything to go by. Once the talk of jackals and hyenas starts that’s when clips of the Jan. 6th House Committee members start rolling. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is identified as a jackal, as are Liz Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger.
For the final act, the one where Trump metaphorically “runs like the wind” and “tears the shit out of everybody,” the video shows a montage of clips, all featuring Trump who seems to be weirdly preoccupied with hats — either his own red MAGA accessories or those of the military guards standing outside various forms of air transport.
The video was created by a group called The United Spot which is apparently known for creating memes filled with stereotypes and poorly-made videos trolling Democratic D.C. leaders. Which, honestly, feels the most on-brand when it comes to Trump.
Marvel at a guy who once had access to our nuclear codes, above. And here’s the original Walken scene, below.
Lil Baby’s third studio album, It’s Only Me, is due this week, but one of his biggest fans — you might even say the biggest fan — apparently can’t wait that long. Young Thug, who somehow seemingly still has access to his Twitter account, logged in to tell his young beneficiary to push the album’s release up a day or face some stiff consequences.
“Wham if you don’t drop in 3 days we ain’t bruddas,” he wrote. Now, he’s probably joking; after all, he once paid Baby six figures to actually give rap a go and leave the streets alone, so he likely isn’t throwing that all away over a week’s wait. To be sure, he has nothing but time on his hands, given his current circumstances, but maybe that’s why he’s so impatient, to begin with. Incidentally, he’s actually on the album, along with Future, Nardo Wick, and Rylo Rodriguez.
Either way, it’s sort of funny — in a graveyard humor kind of way — to picture Thug turning into a regular stan on Twitter from the sheer boredom of being locked up awaiting his trial for racketeering in January. If he was out, he’d probably already have heard the album but now, he’s just like the rest of us, waiting on pins and needles for the project to drop. And who knows? Since it’s the wish of an incarcerated man, maybe someone at Universal can pull some strings.
If Lil Baby doesn’t push the album up, it’ll drop on 10/14 through Quality Control Music and UMG.
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(@xbabyyprincess) 
Christopher Walken when he narrates anything, even an edited/produced video.
(@peppita7) 
