Elon Musk has already revolutionized car and space travel. Now, the Tesla and Space X founder wants to change the way humans communicate. As previously reported, Musk’s latest start-up, Neuralink, is developing a computer-brain chip with the ability to communicate with external devices. The idea is to implant “gossamer-thin wires” — thinner than human hair — directly into a person’s brain. Upon its insertion, the chip could help people deal with brain and spinal cord injuries, detect an imminent threat of a heart attack or stroke, and even cure mental health issues and depression. Beyond the potential health benefits, the Neuralink could allow humans to communicate with one another instead of writing or speaking (something Musk refers to as “conceptual telepathy”). Music fans cou...
Actor Chadwick Boseman has died at the age of 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer. According to a statement, Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and “battled with it these last four years as it progressed to stage IV.” Boseman kept his diagnosis private up until his death. “He died in his home with his wife and family by his side,” the statements continues. “The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time.” Boseman is best known playing Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in four films: the titular Black Panther, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: End Game. He also played Jackie Robinson in 42; James Brown in Get On Up; an...
In the light of Chadwick Boseman’s tragic passing from colon cancer, tributes have begun to pour in. “Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with Chadwick Boseman’s family. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest In Peace,” wrote Marvel Studios in a statement posted to Twitter. Several of Black Panther’s fellow Avengers also offered their own individual tributes to Boseman. “What a man, and what an immense talent,” wrote Mark Ruffalo. “Brother, you were one of the all time greats and your greatness was only beginning. Lord love ya. Rest in power, King.” “This is such devastating news. We’re praying for his family,” added Chris Pratt. “The world has lost an immeasurable talent and a great person.” “Chadwick was special. A true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious ar...
One of the smoothest voices in Los Angeles has linked up with one of the smokiest: India Shawn has shared her new song “Movin’ On” featuring Anderson .Paak. It comes with a wacky music video that marks .Paak’s directorial debut. A former member of the Full Circle songwriting team, Shawn is a veteran ghostwriter with cuts for Akon (“Take It Down Low”), Monica (“Without You”), Diddy & Dirty Money (“Your Love”), Chris Brown (“Trumpet Lights”), Keri Hilson (“Way You Love Me”), and more. Now, she’s focusing on her solo career. “Movin’ On’” features production from D’Mile and a beat made up of staccato bursts of horns. Lyrically, the song is a self pep talk. “I’m in my bag, sometimes it’s like that,” Shawn begins, “Get yourself out of the blues.” For his part, .Paak contributes jazzy r...
Bizzy Banks is the latest up-and-comer in Brooklyn’s drill scene, and it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve the praise he’s been getting. Just in case there was any doubt, though, Banks has dropped a brand new single called “Extra Sturdy” where he proves his weight in words and flair. This is the latest track Banks has shared from his upcoming mixtape, G.M.T.O. (Get Money Take Over) Vol. 1, which comes out on September 4th via Atlantic. The 21-year-old rapper previously dropped the single “Movies” earlier this summer as well as the song “Don’t Start Pt. 2”. Editors’ Picks In the music video for “Extra Sturdy”, Banks can be seen rapping along to the track in a series of different locations. There’s a lot of great shots, but arguably the best ones feature Banks in a slew of stando...
J.K. Rowling After launching a series of transphobic tirades on social media, J.K. Rowling has decided to return an award that celebrates human rights and conflicts with “my own conscience.” Late last year, the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) organization honored Rowling with their Ripple of Hope award. The prize is typically given to those who have shown a “commitment to social change.” Past recipients include Barack Obama and Joe Biden. However, in the time since receiving the award, Rowling has done the exact opposite of positively changing society. Instead, the Harry Potter author has repeatedly attacked transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming communities with her wrongheaded opinions on gender identity and sex. “If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. I...
Elvis Costello has shared a new song called “Phonographic Memory”. It’s the B-side to previously-released single “We Are All Cowards Now”. “Phonographic Memory” is unusual within Costello’s discography, and perhaps even unprecedented. Over an open-tuned guitar, the veteran songwriter recites a short story in which someone called “President Swift” conducts a ceremony while the voice of Orson Welles (played by Costello, of course) is heard on an archive recording. The prose is knotty and poetical, full of observations like, “After the peace was negotiated and the internet switched off, knowledge returned to its medieval cloister, in this and that illuminated volume, the jealous possession of the pious and the superstitious, who might once again wield ignorance like a scythe.” Check out “Phon...
Rick Astley has gone from RickRolling to rollin’ with his brothers like it’s Jonas. The 54-year-old British musician has shared a cover of Post Malone’s “Better Now”, and dare we say it might be better now. “There are a lot of words in this song. It’s not my song, I don’t really know it properly,” Astley says in the YouTube video capturing the performance. “But I love it, so I’m gonna give it ago. Here we go, let’s see what happens.” What happens is perhaps a more impactful version of the Beerbongs & Bentleys hit. By turning the track into an acoustic banger instead of the trap-y pop of the original, Astley highlights the blues nature in the lyrics. He gives the words a bit of a country twang and growls out the chorus, really bringing the song’s melancholy to the forefront. Honest...
The Smashing Pumpkins have returned. The first of their five mysterious countdowns has reached its end, and the Chicago rockers have unveiled two new singles: “Cyr” and “The Colour of Love”. The tracks are presumably off their forthcoming double album. “Cyr” is a dance anthem that sounds like Adore meets ABBA, while “The Colour of Love” brings to mind all the midnight anthems within 2000’s Machina. Both hearken back to Billy Corgan’s salad days, back when he worshipped The Cure on FM radio. The two tracks bode well for the highly anticipated follow-up to 2018’s Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1. It also speaks to the more focused and conceptual nature that Corgan had described to the Tennessean earlier this year: “It’s probably a wider swath of music,” Corgan explained at the time. “The last ...
The Rolling Stones (photo by Heather Kaplan), and The Killers on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) The Rolling Stones have recruited The Killers and Jacques Lu Cont for the latest remix of “Scarlet”. It will be included in the elder rockers’ forthcoming Goats Head Soup box set, out September 4th. Take a listen below. After unearthing this long-lost Jimmy Page collaboration in July, The Stones released a charmingly sloppy music video starring Normal People’s Paul Mescal, and followed that up with an initial remix by The War on Drugs. Now, their study in “Scarlet” continues. This time, they’ve turned to The Killers, still riding high from the release of their fun new album Imploding the Mirage, as well as English electronic artist Jacques Lu Cont, ak...