Entertainment News
Reddit Bans Popular Donald Trump Subreddit for Hate Speech
The popular subreddit r/The_Donald, home to many Donald Trump supporters and one of the nastiest, most unwelcoming places on the Internet for years, is officially no more. The virtual hive for MAGA fanatics has been banned by the higher-ups at Reddit due to newly defined hates speech guidelines. Reddit’s updated anti-hate speech measures led to the shut down of nearly 2,000 other subreddits, including r/darkhumorandmemes, r/gendercritical, and r/wojack. All had allegedly been in violation of the site’s updated content policy page, which declares that subreddits and users who “incite violence or that promote hate based on identity or vulnerability will be banned.” The new policies are a huge about-face for a website that long resisted calls to police even its most egregious content und...
Thom Yorke Reveals Second Sonos Radio Mix: Stream
In the past, Thom Yorke has provided the BBC with sleepy bedtime music, as well as more experimental playlists. Lately, the Radiohead frontman has been lending his curatorial skills to Sonos Radio, where he’s in charge of a 24-hour station called “In the Absence Thereof”. Last month, we got a taste of his first Sonos Radio mix, an expansive collection featuring everything from Iggy Pop and James Blake to Duke Ellington and Oneohtrix Point Never. A playlist for his second Sonos Radio mix has now arrived, and it promises a similar wide-ranging selection of material “that fascinates or moves” Yorke. Among the highlights on Yorke’s latest list of “influences and obsessions” are Sonic Youth rocker Kim Gordon, elusive R&B connoisseur Jai Paul, Maryland rappers JPEGMAFIA and Rico Nasty, and e...
Unlocking the Truth Break Up as Frontman Malxolm Brixkhouse Launches Solo Career
Unlocking the Truth, the young metal sensations who first created a buzz playing the streets of New York City, have broken up. In turn, frontman Malcolm Brickhouse has started a solo career as Malxolm Brixkhouse, and is supported by his bandmates one final time on his new single “Phantom”. The young band first made a name for itself when a video of one of its street performances went viral on YouTube. The trio, made up of young teenage and pre-teen musicians, went on to play Coachella and Warped Tour, and opened for such acts as Guns N’ Roses, Queens of the Stone Age, and more. In 2014, Unlocking the Truth inked a $1.8 million record contract with Sony, but negotiated their release from the contract a year later. They eventually released the album Chaos independently in 2016, but never qui...
Burna Boy Bags Best International Act at the BET Awards 2020: Full Winners List
The African giant, Burna Boy has emerged the winner of the Best International Act at the BET Awards 2020. Consequently, Drake tops with nomination list but went home with one plaque and Roody Ricch coped with awards at the night. Check out the full winners’ list; Best International ActBurna Boy (Nigeria) Viewer’s Choice: Best New International ActRema (Nigeria)SHA SHA (Zimbabwe) – WINNER Best Female R&B/Pop ArtistLizzo Best Male R&B/Pop ArtistChris Brown Best GroupMigos Best CollaborationChris Brown Ft. Drake, “No Guidance” Best Male Hip Hop ArtistDaBaby Best Female Hip Hop ArtistMegan Thee Stallion Video of the YearDJ Khaled ft. Nipsey Hussle & John Legend, “Higher” Video Director of the YearTeyana “Spike Tee” Taylor Best New ArtistRoddy Ricch Album of the ...
Orville Peck and Rina Sawayama Cover Pop Hits for Pride Month: Stream
Queer artists Orville Peck and Rina Sawayama have contributed two new cover songs to a Pride-themed installment of the Spotify Singles series. The releases come as the end of Pride month draws near, and just one day after the 51st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. For his entry, alternative country artist Peck chose to take on “Smalltown Boy”, the 1984 chart-topper from British synthpop trio Bronski Beat. All three members of the group were openly gay and their music was known for taking a stance on LGBTQ+ issues. As for Sawayama, our former Artist of the Month, she reworked Lady Gaga’s “Dance in the Dark”. The original 2010 Fame Monster single talked about body image issues and the importance of being comfortable with one’s own sexuality. Editors’ Picks Musicians usually record th...
R.I.P. Benny Mardones, “Into the Night” Songwriter Dies at 73
Benny Mardones, the soft-rock songwriter known for the ’80s smash hit “Into the Night”, has died following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He passed away Monday (June 29th) in his home in Menifee, California, as confirmed by Billboard. He was 73 years old. Mardones, real name Ruben Armand Mardones, was born November 9th, 1946 in Cleveland, though he was raised in Savage, Maryland. After high school, he signed up for the US Navy and served during the Vietnam War. Following his discharge, Mardones decided to relocate to New York City to pursue a career in music. It was there in the Big Apple that Mardones composed multiple songs with help from writing partner Alan Miles. This period also birthed “Into the Night”, which he penned alongside fellow songwriter Bobby Tepper. The 198...
Hulu Pulls Episode of The Golden Girls Over Blackface Concerns
The Golden Girls is the latest piece of NBC-related pop culture to go under the knife. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Hulu has removed a 1988 episode that finds Betty White and Rue McClanahan being mistaken for wearing blackface. The episode in question is “Mixed Feelings” from Season 3 and finds the son of Dorothy (Beatrice Arthur) planning to wed an older Black woman named Lorraine (Rosalind Cash). Things get iffy when Lorraine’s family stumbles upon Rose (White) and Blanche (McClanahan) trying on a new mud facial treatment. Caught off guard, Rose jokes: “This is mud on our faces, we’re not really Black.” Don’t have Hulu? You can sign up now for a free 30-day trial! Okay, so it’s no Gone with the Wind, but it’s hardly a surprising move — especially for NBC. In fact, this marks...
Spoon Announce Telephono and Soft Effects EP Reissues as Part of “Slay on Cue” Archival Campaign
Last year, Spoon revisited their most seminal tracks with the Everything Hits at Once compilation. Now, the indie rock greats are giving their entire catalog another look with a new archival reissue campaign called “Slay On Cue” The series will see Matador Records reissuing most of Spoon’s albums on vinyl and CD for the first time in years. In particular, the band’s Telephono debut and Soft Effects EP haven’t been available in individual physical formats since they were originally released in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Those two efforts will be repressed on July 24th, with the latter available in red and blue vinyl editions with silkscreen covers limited to 500 each (pre-order are now ongoing). A reissue of 2001’s Girls Can Tell will then arrive on August 14...
WATCH: Yemi Alade Brightens the ‘Global Goal: Unite for Our Future’ Stage As She Performs “Shekere”
Representing Africa for the “Global Goal: Unite for Our Future” concert on June 27, African powerhouse diva Yemi Alade brought the house down with the performance of her smash hit “Shekere”. Performing with a full band and dancers, the Afro-pop star hit every note, all while looking fabulous in a halterneck top and shorts set with puffy sleeves. The “Global Goal” event intends to shed a light on communities disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Yemi Alade was joined by Miley Cyrus, Shakira, J Balvin, Jennifer Hudson, Coldplay, Usher, Justin Bieber and Quavo, Christine and the Queens and Chloe X Halle on the virtual stage. Why Yemi Alade is regarded as the best performing artiste of her era? Watch Yemi in action for our future below! [embedde...
Fortnite Hosts Christopher Nolan-Themed Movie Night
Last month, Fortnite debuted the latest trailer for Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi thriller Tenet. Now, in a continuation of their partnership, the video game platform has just hosted its very own movie night dedicated to the famed director. The epic, unprecedented streaming party took place on Friday, June 26th and highlighted three of Nolan’s most popular films. A presentation of 2010’s Inception was the main event, “screening” on the game’s “party royale island” a few times throughout the day for crowds of all sizes. Other Nolan movies Batman Begins from 2005 and 2006’s The Prestige were also shown at various times depending on each users’ location. Although the regional restrictions for streaming posed a bit of a challenge, ultimately Fornite’s Christopher Nolan-themed evening was mea...
Public Enemy Perform “Fight the Power” with Nas, The Roots, and More: Watch
Public Enemy joined forces with Nas, The Roots’ Questlove and Black Thought, YG, and Rapsody for a special performance of “Fight the Power” to kick off the 2020 BET Awards on Sunday night. The all-star collaboration, which was filmed remotely, was interspersed with protest footage and other powerful imagery to go along with updated lyrics referencing George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Rayshard Brook. Elsewhere during the BET Awards, Lil Wayne revisited his 2009 track “Kobe Bryant” in tribute to the late NBA legend; Megan The Stallion delivered a post apocalyptical performance of her new single “Girls in the Hood” and her remix of “Savage”; and DaBaby referenced George Floyd’s murder in a powerful visual for his performance of “Rockstar”. You can replay all of these performances below. ...
James Blake Covers Nirvana Classic “Come As You Are” from Quarantine: Watch
James Blake fans have been treated to a number of special covers during this quarantine season. Over the course of just the last few months, the UK crooner has tackled originals by Radiohead, Billie Eilish, Frank Ocean, and Joni Mitchell. For his newest reimagining, Blake ambitiously rolled out his take on the Nirvana classic “Come As You Are”. The performance was part of an hour-long “piano improv concert” streamed on Instagram Live on Saturday. As requested by a fan, Blake’s rendition of the Nevermind single was “soft” in tone. However, though it was without the angst and volume of the 1992 original, Blake’s cover was still urgent in its own fragile, ivory-tinged way. Watch video of the Nirvana cover below, followed by the full concert (come for the tunes, stay for a glimpse of Blake’s a...
