NEWS
What New Grammy Rules Mean for Latin Music & The Latin Grammys: Analysis
The notion of a Latin committee was born precisely from the desire to showcase material that was exquisite but perhaps not commercial, and to avoid a default win for big crossover names. But as Latin music has become increasingly mainstream in the United States — and let’s remember that the Grammys honor U.S. releases — the need for a small committee to determine the fate of the music is less urgent. What remains to be seen is how this empowered voting body will act with Latin releases. Will they take the easy way out, voting primarily for those names they recognize? Our hope is that those who end up voting in the Latin categories are those who work within the genre and know its players. The reduction in the number of categories that can be voted on — from 15 to 10 —...
Jennifer Lopez & Ben Affleck Rumors Put Twitter in a Time Machine Back to 2002
The year was 2002. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck were two of the biggest stars in the world, and their engagement in November of that year only catapulted them further into the stratosphere of fame as the couple cloyingly labeled “Bennifer.” Now, the year is 2021. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are still two of the biggest stars in the world, and their recent rumored get-together — reported Friday (April 30) by Page Six — has Twitter thinking it’s the early 2000s all over again. Of course, there’s no actual confirmation that this relationship — which ended in January 2004 — is being rekindled. But the mere thought of a Bennifer reunion, in the wake of reported breakups for both stars (a broken engagement with Alex Rodriguez for her, a split ...
SNL Cast Won’t Be Forced to Appear with Elon Musk
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-30T19:19:26+00:00“>April 30, 2021 | 3:19pm ET Elon Musk’s upcoming appearance on Saturday Night Live has generated plenty of controversy, even among the show’s own cast. Since it was revealed that Musk, a union-busting COVID skeptic, will be hosting the May 8th episode, several SNL cast and crew members have voiced their displeasure. Aidy Bryant, one of SNL‘s longest tenured cast members, reposted a tweet by Senator Bernie Sanders that called it a “moral obscenity” that “the 50 wealthiest people in America today own more wealth than the bottom half of our people.” Bowen Yang, a popular newcomer to the cast, responded to Musk tweeting, “Let’s find out just how live Saturday Night ...
George A. Romero’s Final Zombie Film, Twilight of the Dead, Is Being Finished by His Widow
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-30T19:27:22+00:00“>April 30, 2021 | 3:27pm ET The dead will rise again. The Hollywood Reporter has it that an unfinished treatment for George A. Romero’s final zombie film, Twilight of the Dead, is currently being worked on by his widow, Suzanne Romero. Prior to his death from lung cancer in 2017, Romero began developing Twilight of the Dead as the final entry in his landmark zombie series that began with 1968’s Night of the Living Dead. He and screenwriter/producer Paolo Zelati (The Profane Exhibit) wrote a treatment for the proposed closing chapter in the Dead franchise, but they never got to take it to the scripting stage before Romero’s passing. After her ...
Travis Scott Announces Dates for Astroworld Festival 2021
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-01T02:36:51+00:00“>April 30, 2021 | 10:36pm ET Travis Scott knows how to throw a celebration, and in honor of his 29th birthday today the rapper has announced the return of his Astroworld Festival. The event will take place November 5th and 6th at Houston’s NRG Arena. After selling out both the inaugural 2018 event and 2019 edition before even releasing a lineup, Scott has expanded the fest to two days this year to keep up with overwhelming demand. With a creative theme of “Open Your Eyes To a Whole New Universe”, Astroworld 2021 promises a “larger-than-life multi-stage music festival experience,” according to a press release. Though the rapper is the only confirmed act...
HHW Gaming: ‘Mortal Kombat’ Actor Joe Taslim Hints At Sub-Zero’s Future & Wanting To Do A Prequel
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Warner Bros. / Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat is still being talked about following its highly anticipated release. One of the film’s stars is already envisioning the future for his character. Beware, spoliers ahead. Whether you liked it or not, Mortal Kombat was a success for HBO Max and at the box office and will likely spawn sequel films. Indonesian actor and renowned martial artist Joe Taslim who did what he had to do as everyone’s favorite cryomancer assassin Sub-Zero has plans for his character that he hopes will come to light in future films. Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Taslim revealed that he hopes to play Bi-Han (Sub-Zero’s real name) again in a prequel and a subsequent sequel. Now, for those who have seen the movie, Sub-Zero was turned in...
Kid Cudi And The NFL Team Up On Limited-Edition “2021 Draft” Starter Jacket
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: SHOP.KIDCUDI.COM / SHOP.KIDCUDI.COM The National Football League and Kid Cudi have teamed up to create a one-of-a-kind Starter pullover jacket to commemorate the 2021 NFL Draft, taking place April 29-May 1 in Kid Cudi’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. The symbolic Starter jacket showcases the NFL Shield, all 32-team logos, and Kid Cudi’s Moon Man logo in a mix of embroidered and chenille patches. The jacket features an all-over logo design, a hidden front pocket, an elastic waistband and cuffs, and a hood with drawstrings. Additionally, we get toggle closure on the neck. This piece is made of crinkled nylon material with poly satin lining for the interior. This drop is a 180-degree turn from the rapper’s very polarizing fashion choices when he recently appea...
Young Thug, Gunna & YTB Trench ft. Lil Baby “Paid The Fine,” 42 Dugg & Roddy Ricch “4 Da Gang” & More | Daily Visuals 4.30.21
HipHopWired Featured Video Source: Prince Williams / Getty Recently Young Thug and Gunna took it upon themselves to post bail for 30 low-level offenders in Atlanta and give them back the freedom they couldn’t afford to pay for. Now Thugger and Gunna highlight their good deed in the YTB Trench and Lil Baby featured visuals to “Paid The Fine” where they show the families they helped reunite and interview their family members. This was hella dope. To further infuriate MAGA country, 42 Dugg and Roddy Ricch take the fight to white supremacists and racists in their clip to “4 Da Gang” where they burn confederate flags because f*ck racism. Check out the rest of today’s drops including work from Joyner Lucas and Lil Baby, BRS Kash featuring Toosii, and more. YOUNG THUG, GUNNA & YTB TRENCH FT. ...
Alesso, Tove Lo, More Donate Spotify Covers to Avicii’s Tim Bergling Foundation for Mental Health Awareness
Swedish Save The Children and the Tim Bergling Foundation want to help destigmatize discussions around mental health. Their joint campaign has partnered with a handful of Swedish artists, who will be replacing their album covers on Spotify with animated shorts that visualize children’s emotions and anxiety. Alesso, Tove Lo, Elliphant, and many more Swedish musicians will be participating over the next four weeks. The animated shorts—or Canvases—were created by Allen Laseter, Alva Skog, Parallel Teeth, Laura Hodkin and Dan Stankler and are based on stories children have shared about their mental health. Custom Spotify covers developed by Swedish Save The Children and the Tim Bergling Foundation to raise awareness about mental health. Swedish Save The Children “Mental illness amon...
Malcolm Campbell, Former SPIN Publisher, Dies at 61
Malcolm Campbell, the media executive who served as SPIN’s publisher during the 1990s and 2000s, has died at the age of 61. According to a GoFundMe page organized by Friends of Malcolm Campbell, he “passed away peacefully at home on April 29th, 2021 at 10 pm. He was surrounded by his family and CC, his loyal dog by his side.” He had been battling pancreatic cancer since 2019. “There are no words to describe the devastation that is felt by all,” the statement on the GoFundMe page continued. “Malcolm impacted the lives of countless individuals, friends, and family. We truly appreciate everyone for your donations and support.” A native of Johnson City, Tennessee, Campbell began his career at Foote, Cone & Belding in Chicago as an ad executive in 1987. He then moved to SPIN in 1991, initia...
Jeep Wrangler 4xe PHEV Gets 2.0-Inch Lift Kit and More From JPP
The first 4xe-specific addition is a Jeep Performance Parts 2.0-inch lift kit. Why does the 4xe necessitate its own 2.0-inch lift when JPP already has such a kit for the Wrangler? We figure it’s because of the added weight of the 4xe’s electric bits (battery pack, motors, wiring) that add at least 500 pounds to the SUV’s curb weight. The JPP lift kit—technically an industry-first for a plug-in hybrid—includes four springs, four Fox shocks, front lower control arms, front and rear stabilizer links, front and rear bump stops, and all the necessary hardware to fit it to your Wrangler 4xe. It all comes bundled neatly in a neat JPP wooden crate that can hang around the homestead for years to come. The kit runs about $1,495. The second 4xe-specific product is a 240-volt electri...
Stick It Out: 11th-Gen Civic Si, Type R, and Hatch Set to Get Manual Gearbox
The Civic sedan will no longer be offered with a manual—regardless of trim or engine option. A revised version of the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) found in the outgoing Civic will serve as the only transmission option if you want a Civic in this traditional three-box body style. However, if you decide to spring for the forthcoming Civic hatch, you’ll likely also get the option of a six-speed manual gearbox. Like the Civic hatch that came before it, the 11th-generation model will likely offer a stick shift with the Sport trim, which will likely continue to include the compact car’s available 180-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter I-4. This might not seem like a lot of grunt, but consider the last Civic hatch we tested weighed in at a svelte 2,937 pounds—that’s...
