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Shaquille O’Neal and Rob Gronkowski Announce Charity Livestream with Diplo, Steve Aoki, Carnage, and More
Shaquille O’Neal, also known as The Big Shaqtus, also known as Shaq Daddy, also known as The Big Shamrock, also known as The Big Aristotle, is a man of many talents (and nicknames). Retiring as one of the best centers to ever play in the NBA, Shaq has used his time away from the game to pursue many passion projects, emerging as one of the most prolific and ubiquitous celebrities in the entertainment industry. One of those projects is his foray into electronic music as DJ Diesel, which has proven incredibly successful over the course of the last year. DJ Diesel’s latest endeavor sees him teaming up with fellow megastar athlete Rob Gronkowski, one of the best tight ends in NFL history and Tom Brady‘s go-to target for three of the Patriots’ Super Bowl victories. S...
R.I.P. Ian Holm, Alien and Lord of the Rings Star Dies at 88
Ian Holm, iconic British actor who starred in Alien, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Chariots of Fire, and countless other productions, has died of Parkinson’s disease. He was 88. His agent confirmed the news Friday morning (June 19th) in a statement to The Guardian: “It is with great sadness that the actor Sir Ian Holm CBE passed away this morning at the age of 88. He died peacefully in hospital, with his family and carer. Charming, kind and ferociously talented, we will miss him hugely.” Born in Goodmayes, England on September 12th, 1931, Holm found a start in acting after his dentist, of all people, introduced him to Henry Baynton, a renowned Shakespearean actor who mentored the young thespian. Baynton’s guidance helped Holm secure admission into the Royal Academy of Drama...
Unheard Thelonious Monk High School Performance to See Release
A previously unreleased Thelonious Monk live recording from 1968 will finally see light on July 31st through Impulse! Records. The album captures Monk and his all-star quartet performing a concert at a local high school in Palo Alto, California. According to a press release, the concert was organized by 16-year-old student named Danny Scher, and was recorded by the school’s janitor. The tape was stowed away in Scher’s attic for years and was only recently rediscovered. T.S. Monk, the son of Thelonious and founder of the Thelonious Monk Institute, called the performance “one of the best live recordings I’ve ever heard by Thelonious.” He added, “I wasn’t even aware of my dad playing a high school gig, but he and the band were on it. When I first heard the tape, from the first measure, I knew...
20 Years Ago, Deftones Unleash Their Magnum Opus White Pony
Though it wasn’t so apparent on their 1995 debut album Adrenaline, Deftones screeched onto the scene with an instinct towards perpetual expansion that was practically encoded in the band’s creative DNA. At first, the Deftones brand was basically synonymous with the nu metal movement the Sacramento, California, outfit seemed to fit so well. By 1997’s sophomore effort Around the Fur, it was clear that Deftones were straining against the stylistic confines they’d initially seemed comfortable working within. The hip-hop, groove metal, and thrashy influences were still there, but the music was now undergirded by an emphasis on dynamics, mood, and atmosphere. But when the band released its third album, White Pony, six months into the new millennium (June 20th, 2000), Deftones effectively rendere...
Beyoncé Drops New Song “Black Parade” to Honor Juneteenth: Stream
Beyoncé went big to honor this year’s Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On Friday, the pop icon not only launched “Black Parade Route”, an initiative that supports Black-owned small businesses, but she also dropped a brand new song called “Black Parade”. Of course, it’s as timely and moving as expected from Queen Bey. Musically, “Black Parade” is a celebratory blend of pop, trap, hip-hop, and electronica-verging on Detroit techno. Over cascading horns and a chipper flute melody, Beyoncé sings about the unique joys of being Black, touching on everything from womanhood to her heritage and the ways in which Blackness proudly permeates throughout it all. Stream “Black Parade” below. [embedded content] It’s been a while since Beyoncé dropped new music ...
Thurston Moore Announces New Album, Shares New Song ‘Hashish’
After dropping a couple songs in recent months, Thurston Moore has officially announced a new album: By the Fire. The guitarist also shared a new track from the record, “Hashish,” which is described as “an ode to the narcotic of love in our shared responsibility to each other during this time.” By the Fire is Moore’s latest project with the Thurston Moore Group, which features former Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, My Bloody Valentine bassist Deb Googe, and guitarist James Sedwards. The “Hashish” video is a compilation of footage from the band’s recent tour in Europe, “as well as clips from home during COVID lockdown safe in space with respect to the sacred healing truth of nature.” By the Fire is slated for a September 25 release on Moore’s Daydream Library Series l...
Evanescence’s Amy Lee Reveals How She Once Burned a Hole in Mickey Mouse’s Heart: Exclusive
Ouch! Things took a bit of a dark turn when Amy Lee, the frontwoman of Evanescence, showed off her home studio in an exclusive video on Billboard’s Instagram Saturday (June 20). As part of Billboard‘s “My Top 10” series, the rock vocalist shared some of the favorite things she keeps around when she’s making music, and quite a few were throwback items to her youth. As she kicked off the at-home tour, Lee pointed out that what’s in her creative space is “part audio gear and part ’80s toy collection, because that’s who I am and that’s how I roll.” Among the fancy equipment and instruments was a Mickey Mouse lamp from her childhood bedroom minus the lampshade — and his heart. “I had forgotten there was this other lig...
Beyonce Proves Why Black Is Beautiful With New TIDAL Playlist ‘Motherland Drip’
After releasing her surprise extended track “Black Parade,” Beyonce continues to celebrate Juneteenth with her new TIDAL playlist, “Motherland Drip” featuring James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Jay-Z, Nipsey Hussle and more. The multi-track collection includes a fistful of records from Queen Bey herself, including her Homecoming remake of “Before I Let Go” and The Lion King: Gift Soundtrack favorite “Brown Skin Girl.” The outro from Bey’s “Motherland Drip” playlist ends on a promising note, as she chose Dr. Martin Luther King’s “We Shall Overcome” speech to conclude her roundup. On Friday night (June 19), Beyonce shared “Black Parade” as an ode to Juneteenth. &#...
Selena Gomez Shows Gratitude to Black Leaders Who Took Over Her Instagram
Selena Gomez is showing gratitude to the numerous Black leaders who took over her Instagram page over the past two weeks. The 27-year-old pop star returned to Instagram Thursday (June 18) to share a heartfelt message of thanks to the 12 “inspiring” activists and authors for educating her 180 million followers. The singer also encouraged her fans to continue educating themselves and to enact change through voting. “I want to thank all of the amazing people that took the time to speak to us directly,” Gomez began her note, which included photos of the dozen individuals. “I am blown away with your knowledge, eagerness to teach and commitment to ensuring Black voices are not silenced. Educating ourselves is the first step if we hope to make any progress in bringin...
Rapper Hurricane Chris Arrested for Murder in Louisiana
Hurricane Chris, known for the song “A Bay Bay,” has been arrested on a murder charge in Louisiana. The rapper, whose real name is Christopher Dooley Jr., was arrested early Friday (June 19) on one count each of second-degree murder and illegal possession of stolen things, Shreveport Police said in a news release. Dooley, 31, of Shreveport, was being held without bond at the city jail. Online jail records did not indicate if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Police responded shortly after 1 a.m. Friday to a reported shooting at a gas station in Shreveport, news outlets reported. Officers found one person suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Dooley, who had gone into the gas station’s store, initially told police that he had shot a ma...
D.L. Hughley Faints Onstage During Set In Nashville
Source: Michael S. Schwartz / Getty D.L. Hughley had a bit of a scare on Friday (June 19) while performing a stand-up routine in Nashville, Tenn. The veteran comedian and media figure passed out while in the midst of delivering a joke, and details are currently still developing. Hughley, 57, was delivering a set at the Zanies Comedy Night Club in Nashville and was entertaining a packed crowd when the incident took place. Video of the moment show Hughley ready to deliver one of his zingers and his voice trailed off ahead of him sliding off a stool and then hitting his head on the stage’s floor before two men take him off to the side. While Hughley hasn’t made any public statements, DJ Vlad said via Twitter that he spoke with the comedian and that he’s doing better. Another comedian, Jay Was...
Atlanta Cops Who Murdered Rayshard Brooks Turn Themselves in
Source: Fulton County Jail / Fulton County Jail Garrett Rolfe and Devin Brosnan, the former Atlanta cops responsible for the murder of Rayshard Brooks, have both turned themselves. The pair face several charges, with Rolfe facing the most serious charge of felony murder. NPR reports that Rolfe and Brosnan, the officers who arrived on the scene of the Wendy’s parking lot where Brooks eventually lost his life, turned themselves in this past Thursday (June 18) after charges were publicly announced. The pair were booked at varying times at the Fulton County Jail. A day prior, the Fulton County DA Paul Howard announced 11 charges against Rolfe, with the most serious charge levying a threat of capital punishment or life in prison without parole. Brosnan, who joined Rolfe as the arresting officer...
