Conventional wisdom in the tech business states that the way you stay ahead is by constantly innovating. Unfortunately, the quantum leaps forward of years past have sort of petered out, leaving us with annual incremental updates to existing technology instead (nobody likes the new logo, Elon).
Apple’s latest patent might suggest that we’re about to start going backward — at least, according to fans who learned the news via Twitter. According to CNET, the tech giant filed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for a new version of its AirPods case featuring a touchscreen that would let users control playback and check the battery, among other things. But since patent blueprints aren’t very fun to look at, some accounts on Twitter sharing the news have mocked up some potential images of how such a thing might appear.
Naturally, due to its resemblance to a prior Apple product, the now-discontinued iPod Nano (specifically, the sixth iteration thereof), everybody is making the same joke (kinda like how the last three iPhones were… never mind). At least this (hopefully) won’t come pre-loaded with an album no one wants. Maybe it’ll even make Apple Music’s karaoke feature worth it?
Apple has been granted a patent to make an AirPods case with a touchscreen display. pic.twitter.com/e6AY9mTbW5
Others wondered whether such a thing is even necessary, considering, well… your phone already does this. So can your computer, your tablet, and your gosh darn wristwatch. As one user succinctly put it, “In what scenario would it be inconvenient for me to hold a phone, but convenient for me to hold an airpod case?” Fans also pointed out that other “innovations” recently embraced by Apple hadn’t fared so well either.
In what scenario would it be inconvenient for me to hold a phone, but convenient for me to hold an airpod case? https://t.co/g4P47iexiX
However, so few patents that get filed ever actually get produced, so we’re not likely to actually get this anytime soon — and certainly not in any of the forms posited by these concept photos. For now, though, let’s all embrace the nostalgia and silliness of it all.
FX’s hip-hop high comedy Dave returned this week in explosive fashion with a double-episode premiere that proved its creator and protagonist’s cringey comedic edge wasn’t dulled by the time away. The brainchild of David Burd — better known to hip-hop fans as the humorous meta-rapper Lil Dicky — Dave follows its titular aspiring rap star as he pursues fame, avoids the pitfalls of being an awkward white dude participating in a Black art form, and this season, looks for love on the road in the wake of his for-real-this-time breakup with ex-flame Ally.
The comedy in Dave derives from Burd’s heightened, hyper-anxious portrayal of a character who is, essentially, himself with, as he put it in a conversation via Zoom, less “social tact.” The Dave of the show often betrays a lack of common sense and an overabundance of ego. Yet, he’s also deeply insecure and selfish, causing him to ignore or downplay his friends’ and family’s concerns until they blow up in his face. Keeping him from being completely unlikable is the core of his needing to be liked — and generally learning his lessons by the episode’s end.
Season three finds Dave in the middle of his first-ever tour, playing undersold dive bars and shooting music videos at his parents’ house in Philadelphia. His concerns — finding a meaningful human connection amidst a parade of fame-induced one-night stands while dodging STDS, and reconnecting with his high school crush by casting her in his video about how she broke his heart — are true-to-life, because they come from the real Lil Dicky’s own stories. But he turns up both the humor and the humiliation to borderline painful levels; you won’t know whether you’ll die from laughing yourself sick or secondhand embarrassment.
It’s all in good fun, though, and the heart of the show remains Dave’s camaraderie with friends like Mike, Elz, and GaTa, while Emma gets a newly pronounced role and a slew of guest stars from across the rap world continue to make hilarious cameos of their own. Dave graciously broke down how he toes the line with his semiautobiographical comedy, incorporates his real-life music into the show to keep fans sated, and which of his guest stars was the funniest so far. Oh, and we played “f*ck, marry, kill” with a trio of his fellow white rappers. He’s a good sport.
In your previous seasons, you’ve kind of backloaded the music. This time, you sort of front-loaded the music. The first two episodes open with music videos, and then the third has an extended musical sequence, where you’re recording. Why did you want to lead off with more music?
I don’t know if that was necessarily by design. I think it just happened that way, and I wasn’t thinking, “We’re going to front-load this thing with music.” I think there’s just, in general, more new music, even as it goes on. By the end of the season, there’s even more music. I think I just happen to be in a position where I record a lot of music in between seasons. Some of it was recorded without thinking, “Will this go in the show?” But then when it’s time for the show to need something, I think, “Well, what do I have that I’ve recorded that could work?” And sometimes, I will record things just for the show.
But I just know that my fans are starving for music. I’m well aware of that. And the show takes up so much of my time that I didn’t want people to think that I’m just an actor playing a rapper now. I just want to remind people that I do make music. And I love music, and I think it’s really cool and unique to the show. And I don’t think any other show could do that.
The music does a lot of the heavy lifting, especially the music video in episode two. It was that perfect cringey level of like, “Okay, he’s riding the line.” Where do you find that line between making Dave relatable and just making him look like a jerk in that episode two climax?
I never want to be on my high horse being like, “Poor me.” I had romantic trauma in the past, and I’m just the ultimate victim all episode. And I think that life is complex, and there are times when there are certain things… I really was supposed to go to a dance with a girl, and then the guy showed up. And then I was the 33rd person there. That really happened to me.
I wanted to make a song that felt nostalgic of a period for a lot of people my age — with AIM [AOL Instant Messenger] and high school and that type of journey. And I also wanted to show a different side, which is the fast-forward 15 years, and this guy’s become a famous rapper. He’s trying to create something out of it, but he is still grappling with all the deep-seated emotions that occur.
I wanted the audience to think, “Oh, Dave’s in the right. Dave’s in the right. She’s in the wrong. She’s in wrong,” and then realize, “Wait, there’s more to it.” And there’s varied perspectives in life. And to just be locked into one perspective, you might miss something. And I think that’s a beautiful part of humanity and a beautiful part of the show.
Do you think this heightened version of Lil Dicky, who exists on the show, would’ve been able to achieve the same level of success as the real Lil Dicky with the way that he responds to things and the crazy stuff that happens to him?
No. I think I’m, in reality, at the right level that a human being should be. Because I still have all the confidence that the character has in the show. I just think I, very much, adhere to social tact, whereas the character in the show, for the sake of comedy most of the time, will take it to a degree well beyond what I would ever do in real life. So I think if I went into record label meetings or whatever saying the same stuff that the character does in the show, I don’t think that the meetings would’ve gone as well.
And also, good for you, you didn’t break Kareem’s leg. Because I know you’re a big hoop fan. I’ve seen you at the celebrity games out here in LA. Would you have wanted to be in the White Men Can’t Jump remake?
Well, I wouldn’t have had time to… And no. Yeah, I just was making my show, and no. For me to be in a basketball movie, I would have to really dedicate my life to the game. If I’m going to be in a full-length motion picture about basketball, I would just care so much about just the footage of me, and that would require dedicating my life to the game. And I don’t think I can do that right now.
Probably fuck G-Eazy, marry Macklemore, and kill Harlow.
Speaking of rappers who’ve been on the show, who is the funniest rapper you’ve had on the show to date?
Man, Rick Ross is pretty funny. I’m thinking. I’m thinking. There’s been so many. There’s people that aren’t even named that are coming this season that are so funny. Let’s say, Rick Ross. He was making a lot of jokes up from off the top of his head in our scenes.
I know you do a lot of interviews. I do a lot of interviews. We get sick and tired of hearing the same questions over and over again, both of us. If you were doing the interview, what’s the one question you would want to ask yourself that you would want to talk about?
I’m thinking. I don’t know. “Do you think GaTa deserves every award on the planet?” And I would say, “Yeah.”
I actually got to do an interview with GaTa before, a couple years ago, and he’s just the nicest guy in the world… You guys deserve the success you’ve earned. Last question: What is the one thing you hope people learn from this season? If there’s a thesis statement of the season, what would it be?
Honestly, I have an answer to that question, but it’s the type of answer that I would want to give after people have seen all 10 episodes. Answering that question now kind of gives away but just know we’re headed somewhere. And I think people will be surprised where it goes.
“I always just wanna let the music speak for itself, and to be honest, no matter what I do, people always find things to say about it, so I’m used to it. I just choose to ignore it. People have every right to their opinions, freedom of speech, and it’s up to me to choose what I give my attention and energy to.”
In another recent interview, she also addressed negativity, saying, “The thing is, the same people who say that weren’t fans of Halle and [me] when we had our Ungodly Hour album out, The Kids Are Alright. So, it’s a bunch of people who are just putting in their two cents now just to really say things. Sis and I, we’ve been underground for a minute and the same people who talk weren’t around then or giving us our props then, and it’s like now they want to talk trash for some reason.”
Halsey and Moses Sumney are two musicians who are among the newly-announced cast for Ti West’s Maxxxine — which will star Mia Goth as the title character, as a continuation of the X and Pearl realm.
Goth, who will be reprising her Maxine character from X, will now be trying “to make it as an actress in 1980s Los Angeles,” according to Deadline. (Pearl had been a prequel from the perspective of the old murderous lady in X, which Goth also played.)
A24 dropped the first teaser announcement for the film today on social media. “Hollywood, here she comes,” the caption reads. It is set to start filming later this month.
Both Sumney and Halsey have dabbled in the acting realm previously. Sumney is set to appear in HBO’s upcoming series, The Idol, and was included in Creed. Meanwhile, Halsey starred in Americana, a film that recently had its premiere at SXSW.
While their exact roles in Maxxxine are currently still under wraps, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon are also in the cast. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Esposito is playing an adult film agent, Debicki is a director, and Monaghan and Cannavale work for the LAPD. Bacon is playing a private detective.
Halsey had also been hinting at their casting for a few months now, after captioning an Instagram post from February, “viXXXen for Valentine’s” — seemingly referencing the style of Maxxxine.
Appearing on her hometown radio station, Atlanta’s Majic 107.5, Chlöe broke down the negative responses after being asked about the criticism by host Ryan Cameron. “I saw somebody that said, ‘Whatever happened to Chloe X Halle?’” the host said. “Because they felt like it was a space — after Beyoncé [signed the sister duo] and all that — there was just gonna be all these things. Then, all of a sudden, all these things really happen, then it’s like, ‘Whatever happened to Chloe X Halle?’ It’s like they almost felt like… they wanted you to stay a kid!”
“The thing is,” Chlöe replied, “The same people who say that weren’t fans of Halle and [me] when we had our Ungodly Hour album out, The Kids Are Alright. So, it’s a bunch of people who are just putting in their two cents now just to really say things. Sis and I, we’ve been underground for a minute and the same people who talk weren’t around then or giving us our props then, and it’s like now they want to talk trash for some reason.”
For sure, it’s appeared that the more success the sisters have seen, the more critical the peanut gallery has become — but those people sharing their opinions now don’t even seem to know much about the girls. Take the loud contingent of racist haters who lashed out at Halle’s casting in The Little Mermaid. It seems they’ve just become the latest targets of convenience for online cranks looking for something to hate.
In 2021, Chlöe flapped her wings and flew out of her nest. This “nest” is representative of more than one thing in her life – her Chloe x Halle duo with sister Halle Bailey and the sonic landscape that made up her previous records are among them. For the first half of that year at least, Chlöe was independent of both. Halle spent the first six months of 2021 in London filming The Little Mermaid live-action film. This marked the first time that the two were apart for such a long period of time. It was during this time that Chlöe also became more experimental with her music and more comfortable with showing off her body on social media. The latter resulted in extended and unfounded criticism from people at home, and it continued for the next two years. They took swipes at everything from her music, her posts, her performances, and more in this new and continuously building era of independence for the 24-year-old singer.
For the most part, Chlöe didn’t set out to correct her detractors, mainly because they rained in before long before she could finish a body of work to present to the world. It’s like criticizing a painter on their overall canvas after a few brushstrokes. Critics of her music often pointed to her success with Chloe x Halle forgetting that the duo is also comprised of Halle Bailey who had a hand in their success with projects like Ungodly Hour, so, of course, things were different. Though it may not be her intentional goal to prove her haters wrong, she does get a kick out of accomplishing it along with other goals. “I love proving people wrong,” she said in her Uproxx cover story in August 2022. “One day, I hope people can really get to see who I truly am as a human being as opposed to this facade of a person that they think I am.” At long last, the opportunity to do so arrived with her debut album In Pieces.
There are plenty of things that In Pieces highlights in favor of Chlöe’s artistry. Through its 14 songs, we see that underneath the feisty, captivating, and bubbly young woman, lies one that is still recovering from heartbreak. Unlike most albums centered on heartbreak, Chlöe doesn’t grant us a view into the days before the pains in love on In Pieces. Rather, impulsive reactions and thoughts are at center stage to start things off. “Pray It Away” marks the first fully-composed piece of music on the album and Chlöe shows the maturity to let karma sort itself out with help from the glorious echoes of a choir. That record spills into the uptempo and bouncy “Body Do” that, sans a slightly jarring intro, succeeds in reminding us of Chlöe’s versatility. There, she decides to use an unfaithful man for the one thing they’re good for in their final days together. In both cases, Chlöe acknowledges that the first step in heartbreak is to pick up the broken pieces, but what to do with them next is the journey that unwinds on In Pieces with emotive highs and lows, confrontations with self and others, and most importantly, growth.
In Pieces succeeds in many areas just from a musical standpoint. “I Don’t Mind” tantalizes with the flavor of fluttering guitar strings as Chlöe climbs the scale with the effortless agility of a ninja warrior. She swoops low in her warm-up towards a near-whisper hook that grazes the sky to pluck at the clouds. ”Feel Me Cry” is a well-executed double entendre that dazzles with Chlöe’s cries for the emotional connection that only the comfort of physical touch, especially in the sexual sense, can provide. That along with “Make It Look Easy” are by far the best all-around composed songs on the album. The latter record is layered in such an encapsulating way that it carries a meaning applicable to more than one subject. When she sings, “Can I be honest with you?” it’s a question directed at a significant other in her life and the general world that tried to break her down into pieces over the past couple of years. The openness and honesty in this record present a woman who’s learned to leave a bad situation and not indulge in the last good pieces of it as we see on “Body Do.” Lines like “Overthinkin’ always in my head / Hate bein’ alone, there’s nowhere to run / So, I’ll pretend that I’m all good instead,” prove that while the spotlight brightens what is great, it also manages to do the same for one’s imperfections.
On Chlöe’s debut, there’s a bit more to take away about the singer’s artistic direction than about the project’s musicality. On the latter front, the project is not as captivating as one may have hoped for a singer with such a fairly incomparable and undoubtedly commanding voice that has the ability to construct a story of growth and empowerment as we see on the album. Despite this, it appears that Chlöe’s foundational goal with In Pieces was to simply break from her detractors and prove that she can fly away from what once held her down. Chlöe did just that and landed right where she needed to. It’s exhibited through the compassionate and self-serving “Looze U,” the stern and hair-flipping “Told Ya” with Missy Elliott, and the juxtaposing “Cheatback” with music’s toxic king, Future. There’s room for improvement, and being that many listeners were once 24-year-olds looking to figure it all out, Chlöe will fair just fine. For her, there’s a better chance than not that she hits a bullseye in future go-arounds. For now with In Pieces, we and Chlöe can find resolve in knowing that the pieces are now whole again.
In Pieces is out now via Columbia Records and Parkwood Entertainment. You can stream it here.
Jimmy Fallon’s new-ish show, That’s My Jam, really does have a fun gimmick. Taking the simplicity of James Corden’s Carpool Karaoke (which is ending after this season anyhow) and plugging in a bunch of other game show mechanics like a “wheel of fortune” randomizer and the Double Dare-esque spray of water, That’s My Jam not only gives celebrities a chance to wow audiences with incredible performances but also to be more “relatable” by doing something we all do — trip up singing our favorite songs.
Last night’s teams consisted of Community‘s Joel McHale with Will.I.Am and Keke Palmer with Saweetie. During the “Mega Mix Showdown” segment, the two rappers took on some of the classics of the genre — roulette and riff-off style, having to keep the beat between the randomized songs. The tracks included DMX’s “Party Up,” Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day,” The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize,” OutKast’s “Ms. Jackson,” and Tupac’s “California Love.”
Considering both rappers hail from California, you’d think they’d kill that last one, but… Fortunately, they recovered on Snoop Dogg’s “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” with Eve’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind” offering a grand finale. For the “Slay It, Don’t Spray It” segment, though, the girls’ team had to take on pop hits like “Wrecking Ball” — which Keke proclaimed “nobody knows” — while the boys nominated Joel McHale to sing Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again” as Will bundled up for the inevitable rinse. Who gets the big spray? You can check out the video below to find out.
However, in an interview with HipHopDX, Cannon revealed that he kind of wants it that way. When asked about his time in rap music, he responded, “To define me is to confine me. I never thought I was a rapper. That’s why I think I just kind of never — I wouldn’t say I didn’t take it seriously, but I was more focused on being a producer, a musician.”
Later in the discussion, Cannon (whose latest album, The Explicit Tape: Raw & B, was released in 2022) addressed the naysayers that poke fun at his rap career.
“So when people make fun of me, I don’t care — anybody can do that. I’m not impressed by anybody who can rhyme words together. TikTok has proven anyone can do it,” replied Cannon.
He added, “I commend and salute all poets and storytellers. Those are the greats. But just being able to put some words together over a beat, anybody could do that. Literally, Dr. Seuss has turned us all into rappers.”
50 Cent is one of the people that have gone on to make fun of his rap skills. During an interview with The Breakfast Club, the mogul was asked why he never responded to a diss Cannon said in a song, to which 50 Cent at first simply laughed off. He then took a moment to respond, saying, “I don’t know why he’s so passionate about [rapping]…You suck, bro. You suck.”
His next line went on to take on a life of its own through memes. “Like there was never a moment where we was like, ‘Ooh, bars,’” joked 50.
50 Cent on Nick Cannon:
“He’s been corny forever. Like, forever, from the very beginning.”
He also said “I don’t know why he’s so passionate about [rapping]…You suck, bro. You suck. Like there was never a moment where we was like, ‘Ooh, bars!'” pic.twitter.com/lFRsM1rULT
Two of hip-hop’s predominant ric(c)h-named rappers, Roddy Ricch and Rich Homie Quan, have been beefing recently. Now, though, Quan says the situation has been resolved and everything is cool.
Last night, Quan wrote in an Instagram Story post, “Just got off the phone with @roddyricch everything is smooth we settled it like men and I want to apologize for my position at the moment and take this opportunity to show everyone that through conversations we can have solutions.”
@richhomiequan/Instagram
As for what happened, Quan claimed he was intended to have a verse on DJ Drama’s new album, I’m Really Like That, but explained, “I f*ck with Gucci. My verse harder than Gucci Mane. Wayne killed that mothaf*cka. Man, my sh*t was harder than Roddy. Then, they say, ‘We ain’t trying to start no industry sh*t. Roddy Ricch wanted you off the song.’ I ain’t even met Roddy!”
He continued, “Roddy got that ‘Box’ song. I bet his catalog can’t f*ck with mine. That’s on all the money he got in the bank. Since you wanted me off the song, man, let’s go back and forth, catalog to catalog. You ain’t got nothing but the ‘Box’ sh*t because all that other sh*t wack.”
Roddy Ricch is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
With nearly thirty years in the game, Lil Wayne has earned his spot as a hip-hop heavyweight track by track. But the success hasn’t gone to his head. If anything, it is a constant reminder to use his platform to shine a light on the next generation of musical talent. His latest collaboration in the works will do just that, as the Louisiana native plans on jumping into the studio with Louisiana State University’s basketball star Flau’jae Johnson.
This is by no means a random venture. The pair bonded over their love of basketball, Wayne even Facetiming the current national champion on her big win. But just as the student-athlete balances her obligations with the team, she pushes herself just as hard when it comes to her rap career.
During Lil Wayne’s appearance on ESPN’s The Bird And Taurasi Show, when asked did he ever connect with Flau’jae, he replied, “Actually, me and Flau’jae — we’ve spoken,” before adding, “But, we’re about to connect musically soon. So, be looking out for that.”
“And shout out to Miss Kim too,” referring to the head coach of LSU’s women’s basketball team. The Young Money boss said, “Miss Kim told me, ‘You must do something with my girl Flau’jae.’ I was like, ‘Say less.’” The host added, “Flau’jae is about to have a legit music career. I’m so proud of her.”
Responding to the clip, Flau’jae tweeted, “Imagine winning a national championship your freshman year! Then getting a Lil Wayne feature right after?! What is life.”
Imagine Winning A National Championship Your FRESHMAN Year! Then Getting A Lil Wayne Feature Right After ??! What is life pic.twitter.com/38TinB05Ja
No further information has been released regarding the collaboration, but we’re sure the duo will share more information once it is ready to hit streaming platforms.
Hugo the pink cat
Inependet Music Collection 