After months of promotion, apprehension, speculation, and debate, Hulu’s remake of White Men Can’t Jump was released on Friday, bringing director Calmatic’s interpretation of a 30-year-old classic to living rooms across the country.

A lot of the discussion revolved around the film’s star, Jack Harlow, in his first-ever movie role, which required him to do double duty as a fast-talking, hot-shooting former D1 player who teams up with Sinqua Walls to hustle enough 2-on-2 pickup games to enter a tournament for a quarter-million-dollar grand prize

Is it “as good as the original?” Honestly, who the hell cares? We’ve got bigger fish to fry. Namely, the biggest question I had going into the movie: is Jack Harlow a better rapper, actor, or basketball player?

We’re going to break down his performance in the movie along with a few of his accumulated basketball moments from the past few years to determine if the kid’s got a future or if he should stick to his day job. So, what’s really popping?

Jack Harlow, The Rapper

The version of Jack with whom the audience is most familiar, this is also the longest-running version of the Louisville native — at least, in the public eye (more on that later). After exploding into the upper echelons of rap in 2020 with “What’s Poppin?” Harlow rapidly set about establishing his standing as more of a hitmaker. However, he built his early career on a reputation of being a masterful technician. And while Come Home The Kids Miss You struck some fans as a bit of a sellout, which restored his reputation a few weeks ago with Jackman, his third album under Atlantic/Generation Now.

Harlow’s genuinely respected as a rapper, holding his own alongside his idol Eminem and another young bars specialist, Cordae, on the remix of Em’s “Killer.” He’s consistently proven that he can wrangle any aspect of the craft, from punchline-driven battle rap (“They Don’t Love It” from Jackman) to emotive storytelling (“Gang Gang Gang”) to more conceptual tracks like “Common Ground” and “Questions.” He’s a, well, Jack-of-all-trades on the mic, with the patience and dedication to execute heady material and the charm to make hits like “First Class.”

Jack Harlow, The Actor

This is the version of Jack we know the least about. We’re just getting familiar with Jack Harlow as an actor, between his recent roles in White Men Can’t Jump and last week’s episode of Dave (and his Doritos commercial with Missy Elliott, if you want to get really technical). We’ll definitely have more chances to get acquainted soon enough, though. He’s already secured his second role acting across from Matt Damon and Casey Affleck in their upcoming film project on Apple TV+ so get used to seeing those curls on the screen for at least a little longer.

Now, as far as his performance in White Men Can’t Jump goes… Look, it’s unfair to compare him to Woody Harrelson in the original, but people are going to do it anyway. Jack certainly embodies the oddball you’d slinging his homemade juice cleanses in the Erewhon parking lot, but his Jeremy is a little less intense than Woody’s Billy Hoyle. With that said, he’s magnetic as long as he’s on the screen, with excellent comedic timing and even does a little emotional lifting.

Jack Harlow, The Basketball Player

Back when I interviewed Jack in 2021 ahead of the Bleacher Report Open Run 2-on-2 with Quavo, 2 Chainz, and Lil Baby, I scrolled all the way back to the beginning of his Instagram in search of basketball-related posts to ask about and my patience was rewarded. Before he ever garnered a national audience for his rap career, he was playing in local pickup games in Lousiville — skills that have translated to impressive performances at the Open Run and in 2022’s NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, where he hit a pair of four-pointers and an awkward-looking layup on the break.

At a special screening of White Men Can’t Jump at the Grammy Museum in LA on Friday, the film’s director Calmatic revealed that a basketball trainer accompanied Harlow on tour to ensure that he would look like he could have played at Gonzaga — his character’s alma mater — for real. The training clearly paid off; Jack’s execution looks much smoother (there’s a smooth left-hand reverse that I know a lot of guys can’t pull off) and his shot form is obviously improved. Fortunately, his character’s role in the film is more of a facilitator, allowing Sinqua Walls’ Kamal to shine as the clear focal point of the team’s offense. Jack looks good as a hooper but like his character, there’s little chance he’s going to the G-League anytime soon.

The Verdict

For what it’s worth, the last time I did one of these rapper-turned-actor-in-a-basketball-movie reviews (for Pop Smoke’s performance in Eddie Huang’s Boogie) it was very clear that the subject in question had a lot of help from the editing room. It’s clear from my Friday viewing of White Men that Jack needed way less Hollywood magic to look like a serviceable player, while he proved every bit as confident and competent with his role. However, as both a basketball player and co-star, he’s very much the Pippen to Walls’ Jordan.

When he raps, it’s clear that he’s the star of the show, no matter who else is on the track with him. He’s rarely been outshined, and he’s proven to be equally adept at every necessary facet of the game. He’s definitely a better rapper than anything else.

That doesn’t mean he should hang up his jersey anytime soon; I’d love to see his new-and-improved game in another Open Run-style event — or even at the Crew League this summer.

Meanwhile, I have no reservations about checking out his future film roles. If he manages to improve his acting game the way he’s stepped up as a rapper and a hooper, he’ll be a legitimate entertainment triple threat for the foreseeable future.

White Men Can’t Jump is now streaming on Hulu. Jackman is out now on Generation Now/Atlantic.

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

source https://uproxx.com/music/jack-harlow-white-men-cant-jump-basketball-player/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/is-white-men-cant-jump-star-jack-harlow.html

Ice Cube knows the value of great writing, and his pen game is as respected as ever. LeBron James cited Cube’s lyrics to commemorate becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in February, and Logic was compelled to cover Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day,” which Cube co-signed despite lukewarm (at best) fan reception.

Ice Cube does not co-sign the use of AI in hip-hop, however.

The iconic West Coast rapper visited the Full Send Podcast last week and was asked about “this new wave of rappers,” teeing him up to give a scathing review of AI.

Ice Cube’s thoughtful response began at the 47:35 mark:

“I like the beats. The artists are getting lost in autotunes, and now that you have an AI computer, I think people don’t want a computerized rapper no more. They want to hear your voice. I don’t know any rappers by they voice no more. I used to know all the rappers just – hear they voice, know who that is.

I think they need to figure out how to put that autotune down, and we need to hear what people sound like and if they’re as good because I think AI is demonic. I think AI is gonna get a backlash from real people — real, organic people — and so I think artists need to go back to using their real voice and making sure people know this is authentic and not made from a computer.”

When asked whether he was implying all artists now use AI, Ice Cube clarified, “I think autotune sounds computer-like, and I think it’s all starting to sound artificial because of AI.”

In case there was any remaining confusion regarding Ice Cube’s stance on AI, he later plainly stated: “I don’t want to hear an AI Drake song. I don’t want to hear that bullsh*t, and he should sue whoever made it.”

And if anyone dares to make an AI Ice Cube song, “I’m gonna sue the motherf*cker who make it, too, and the platform that plays it.”

Sting and will.i.am are among other artists who have shared their opinions on AI.

Watch Ice Cube’s full Full Send episode above.

source https://uproxx.com/music/ice-cube-called-ai-music-demonic/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/ice-cube-called-ai-demonic-and-said.html

Keeping up with new music can be exhausting, even impossible. From the weekly album releases to standalone singles dropping on a daily basis, the amount of music is so vast it’s easy for something to slip through the cracks. Even following along with the Uproxx recommendations on a daily basis can be a lot to ask, so every Monday we’re offering up this rundown of the best new music this week.

This week saw an introspective Post Malone and a retrospective Lana Del Rey. Yeah, it was a great week for new music. Check out the highlights below.

For more music recommendations, check out our Listen To This section, as well as our Indie Mixtape and Pop Life newsletters.

Post Malone — “Mourning”

In recent times, Post Malone has been open when it comes to getting sober; turns out he wants to be healthy to enjoy as much of his daughter’s life as he can. That’s great, but the process isn’t easy, as Malone sings about on “Mourning,” a new single from his personal upcoming album Austin.

Lana Del Rey — “Say Yes To Heaven”

“Say Yes To Heaven” is a newly released song, but to Lana Del Rey stans, it’s already an old classic. The song has appeared online in various capacities over the years, but last week, Del Rey gave the track — a moving, atmospheric number — its first-ever official release.

Bad Bunny — “Where She Goes”

Bad Bunny is the biggest artist in the world (at least according to him being the most-streamed artist on Spotify pretty much all the time). He offers plenty of star power on his own, but he turned it up to well beyond 11 with his new video for “Where She Goes,” which features Dominic Fike, Frank Ocean, Lil Uzi Vert, Ronaldinho, and others.

Summer Walker — “To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug)” Feat. J. Cole

Summer Walker opens her new Clear 2: Soft Life EP by shining a light on J. Cole, who comes through with a heartwarming and well-received verse on “To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug).” Uproxx’s Aaron Williams describes the track, “Over a mellow, piano-driven soul beat, Cole ruminates on the duo’s burgeoning friendship, congratulating Walker on her newborns and commiserating with her about the travails of the music industry.”

Blur — “The Narcissist”

Damon Albarn has to be one of the busiest people in music. The Gorillaz machine is in perpetual motion, he put out a solo album in 2021, and now he’s getting the Blur gang back together for The Ballad Of Darren, their first album in nearly a decade. They shared “The Narcissist” last week, a propulsive yet mellow indie-rocker.

Halle Bailey — “For The First Time”

“Part Of Your World” is of course the big Ariel song from The Little Mermaid, so we’ve definitely already heard Halle Bailey give it a go by now. The live-action remake’s full soundtrack album dropped last week, though, and that offered a look at “For The First Time,” a more upbeat number from the film that shows off Bailey’s powerhouse vocals in a different way.

Zara Larsson — “End Of Time”

Larsson told Uproxx of her new single, “I love the melodies. I love that it feels big, but it feels like a classic song. And in a way, it’s danceable, it’s pop, and it’s just like a very existential love song about wanting to love somebody until the very end of time.”

NxWorries — “Daydreaming”

Anderson .Paak has proven over the years that he’s a superb collaborator, with a voice and energy that regularly plays well with others. Right now, the focus is on NxWorries (the duo of .Paak and Knxwledge), as they dropped “Daydreaming” a few days ago. It’s a relaxed and warm tune ready for summer that’ll be the perfect score for warm nights of lazy afternoons.

Paul Simon — Seven Psalms

Paul Simon is 81 years old and the Simon & Garfunkel legend is clearly not done adventuring. His new album Seven Psalms, for example, is an atypical undertaking: It’s a completely acoustic project that consists of one multi-segment song, meant to be heard in one 33-minute sitting.

Conan Gray — “Never Ending Song”

Conan Gray is one of pop’s more exciting young stars right now, and the fresh-faced artist goes for a decidedly nostalgic sound on his latest single, “Never Ending Song.” The synthy number sounds like a lost ’80s hit, with Gray even adopting a vocal style reminiscent of the era, but he gorgeously adapted the aesthetic to something that works here in 2023, too.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

source https://uproxx.com/music/best-new-music-this-week-post-malone-bad-bunny/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/all-best-new-music-from-this-week-that.html

Janelle Monae is in their self-renaissance era and no clothing is required. After a clip of them dancing on the top of a bar following the 2023 Met Gala and another of her flashing fans during a performance, the “” singer has been the talk of the town. As they prepare for the release of their forthcoming album, The Age Of Pleasure, TDE’s Reason has a special marketing request for them.

Taking to Instagram, Reason sent a voice note to Monae to ask to “borrow” their boobs for his upcoming music rollout. In an audio clip uploaded to Instagram, the “Barely Miss” rapper says, “Hey Queen. Um, I just wanted to ask respectfully, in the most endearing respectful way, I want to know if I can borrow ya titties for my rollout. I know this is asking a lot, but I’ve seen what your titties did for your rollout and I’m in need.”

He continued, “I’m in need of help for content every single day, Tik Tok, the algorithm is changing, the label wants me to go viral and I saw, it’s a very nice pair of titties also by the way, I saw what those titties did for you, but I was just wondering if you had a daily fee for your titties for my rollout. Um, let me know. I hope you don’t take this any type of way. Just a business transaction. All love. Respect to you queen.”

Reason’s message has not yet garnered a response from Monae. So, in a follow-up post, Reason opened up the offer to anyone willing to partake.

Monae has made it clear that their body and how they use their body to express themselves for social liberation not for the male gaze.

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

source https://uproxx.com/music/reason-marketing-request-janelle-monae/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/rapper-reason-has-endearing-and.html

Megan Thee Stallion‘s music has been immortalized on wax. But now, her likeness is immortalized in wax. Madame Tussauds has revealed a pair of wax figures crafted in the fashion of the Hot Girl Coach herself.

One of the wax figures is dressed up in a matching pant and coat set, with print headlines, reminiscent of the aesthetic from Meg’s debut album, Good News. Another was wearing a sequined, metallic, two-piece set, with a matching hat.

While Madame Tussauds wax figures tend to be a hit or a miss, the general consensus among the Hotties seems to be that the resemblance to Meg is uncanny.

“So glad Madame Tussauds did right by Megan’s Wax Figure,” said one fan on Twitter.

“Madame Tussauds’ Megan Thee Stallion wax figures look good af,” said another fan. “One of the best celebrity wax figures I’ve seen by far. Ate and left no crumbs.”

Even Megan herself was impressed by the wax figures. In a video shared to social media, Meg is seen, almost unable to pick her jaw up off of the ground.

The wax figures will be on display at Madame Tussauds museums in New York and Las Vegas.

You can see Megan’s reaction above.

Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

source https://uproxx.com/music/madame-tussauds-megan-thee-stallion-wax-figures/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/even-megan-thee-stallion-couldnt.html

Lizzo is here to remind us that we are special. Last night (May 19), during a stop on her Special 2our in Omaha, Nebraska, she shared a message with her fans who are in danger of losing reproductive rights and trans-affirming care.

“Anyone who comes to a Lizzo show should know that I am for people to have the right to healthcare,” she said in a video captured by a journalist who was in attendance at the concert.

This statement came after Nebraska’s passing of LB574, a bill banning abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy, along with gender-affirming healthcare for transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people under the age of 18.

Elsewhere during her speech, Lizzo offered words of affirmation to her fans, particularly the younger ones worried about the future of the world.

“It really breaks my heart that there are young people growing up in a world that doesn’t protect them,” she said. “Let me be your safe space tonight. Young people, don’t let anybody tell you who you are, don’t let any law tell you who you’re not. You are who you are. I see you. You are valid. You deserve to be here in any form. These laws are not real. You are what’s real.”

You can see a clip from the show above.

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

source https://uproxx.com/music/lizzo-kind-words-nebraska-fans/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/lizzo-offered-words-of-affirmation.html

Earlier this week, rapper Big Sean made a rare appearance on Twitter. Though he’s dialed back his social media presence in recent years, he took to the social media channel on Thursday (May 18) to share a special message, timely for Mental Health Awareness Month.

“To everybody stressed the f*ck out or overwhelmed cause y’all busy… just remember, It’s much more stressful when things ARENT happening versus stress bc they are,” he said. He continued, seemingly hinting that he was hard at work on new music. “Ok, back to work… but take care of you too.”

Though it’s not clear that he specifically shared this sentiment in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, he and his longtime girlfriend Jhené Aiko are both advocates of mental health.

While Sean is of the mentality that keeping busy is indicative of having a lot going for oneself, he’s also a proponent of maintaining balance.

A month prior to the aforementioned tweet, he reminded his fans, “No matter how busy you are, you gotta live your life.”

It’s been almost three years since Sean released a proper album, however, he’s recently been keeping fans satisfied with guest appearances. He is featured on Kaytranada and Aminé’s song, “Master P,” from their collaborative album Kaytraminé. He also collaborated with Larry June & The Alchemist on a song called “Palisades, CA.”

source https://uproxx.com/music/big-sean-stressed-fans/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/big-sean-shared-message-to-fans-who-are.html

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are making some serious headlines today, after TMZ reported that the couple bought not only a new house in California, but the most expensive one ever sold in the entire state for $200 million.

According to the outlet, they beat out the previously held record of $177 million for an estate sale. And, while it’s not the most expensive deal in the country (that record’s held by one in NYC for $238 million), it is now in second place.

Spanning eight acres, the property is located with a Pacific Ocean view on Paradise Cove — which they note is known as Billionaire’s Row. It was initially listed for $295 million. It had originally been built and owned by the art collector William Bell, with the design coming from the Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The house also reportedly took about fifteen years to be built.

Based on photos of the property, they also have a massive backyard just in front of the ocean.

The latest collection to the power musician duo’s real estate portfolio, it follows their 2017 purchase of a mansion in Bel-Air for $88 million. However, now that the news has broke, fans on social media are divided by the large-scale amount.

Check out some images of Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s truly wild new house here.

source https://uproxx.com/music/beyonce-jay-z-most-expensive-house-california/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/beyonce-and-jay-z-reportedly-just.html

The past couple of years have been big for hip-hop artists getting stars on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Missy Elliott got one in 2021, Nipsey Hussle got his in 2022, and even DJ Khaled got one last year. The latest icon to join his contemporaries on Hollywood Blvd. is Ludacris, whose run of hits spanned from 2000 to 2018 and bolstered a career that saw him go from Atlanta underground rap hero to international movie star (Fast X is out now, only in theaters!).

Luda — real name Chris Bridges — was honored in a ceremony on Thursday (May 18) attended by inspirations like LL Cool J and Queen Latifah, his Fast & Furious Family, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and onscreen banter partner Tyrese, and his real family, wife Eudoxie Mbouguiengue, mother Roberta Shields, and four children. According to the LA Times, his eldest daughter Karma told him she was speaking at her school, Spelman College (an aside: It’s so weird that Karma is in college when the children’s TV show based on her, Karma’s World, still has her titular character in grade school), then surprised him at the ceremony, bringing tears to his eyes.

During his speech, Chris took care to thank the two late Hollywood icons who brought him on board the Fast series way back in 2003, John Singleton and Paul Walker, as well as his longtime managers Chaka Zulu and Jeff Dixon. Interestingly enough, the Times notes that Luda’s star bears the motion picture logo instead of the one for music, although, in this writer’s opinion, he deserved it for either. Give him two. And speaking of his music career, he promised that he’d get to work on that 11th album whenever he finds time. Maybe Vin can have Tej put in a coma or something so Luda can get a break.

source https://uproxx.com/music/ludacris-hollywood-walk-of-fame/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/ludacris-got-his-hollywood-walk-of-fame.html

One of my favorite tropes in hip-hop is when an artist gets another artist to do the intro on their project. For example: Missy Elliott’s 1997 debut Supa Dupa Fly, which opens with “Busta’s Intro” featuring Busta Rhymes. It’s a bold move; the first voice fans hear is someone other than the principal artist. But it also gives fans a chance to get to know that artist through another artist’s eyes.

Summer Walker’s new EP, Clear 2: Soft Life, does this, opening with “To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug)” featuring J. Cole. Over a mellow, piano-driven soul beat, Cole ruminates on the duo’s burgeoning friendship, congratulating Walker on her newborns and commiserating with her about the travails of the music industry. “I find it amazing the way that you juggle your kids, the biz, the fame, the bitches that’s hatin’,” he rhymes. “They sit around waiting for you to fall off like the album I’m making.”

Fans have been delighted by the new track since it dropped, calling it sweet, and remarked on the uplifting, supportive messaging from Cole toward Summer and fellow R&B stars SZA and Ari Lennox.

Other fans have praised the Neo-Soul-influenced direction of the album, likening Summer’s performance to that of Erykah Badu.

Meanwhile, other fans are excited by the reference to J. Cole’s upcoming album The Fall Off, which he’s been teasing for some time. They’re sure its release is imminent after he cleared his Instagram earlier this year, but for now, at least they have his warm, comforting bars from Clear 2 to hold them over until he’s ready to announce a date.

source https://uproxx.com/music/summer-walker-j-cole-clear-2-track-fan-reactions/

source https://trapbeats2023.blogspot.com/2023/05/summer-walkers-clear-2-track-with-j.html