It had been nearly a decade since Rakim released new music, but that drought ended Friday when the godfather of rap lyricism and one half of the revered duo Eric B & Rakim released a new song, “King’s Paradise.” The track was written for Season 2 of Marvel’s Luke Cage, which premiered on Netflix the same day, but it wasn’t entirely new to select NPR staff; they heard it days earlier when the God MC performed at the Tiny Desk.
Alison Brie and Marc Maron Answer the Internet’s Most Searched Questions About Them
In the latest episode of Wired’s “Autocomplete Interview” series, the stars of the Netflix comedy series Glow, Marc Maron and Alison Brie, reveal the answers to Google’s top searched questions about them.
Magicians Penn & Teller Give a Lesson in Misdirection
The Longest-running Las Vegas act in history, Penn & Teller, impresses Jimmy Fallon and the Tonight Show audience with a vanishing chicken and a lot of misdirection.
MadTV’s Aries Spears incredible impersonation of famous rappers
The only thing more impressive is there’s a guy in the background who blends in with the background.
That Time The Teacher From “Welcome Back, Kotter” Released A Single
Remember the sitcom, Welcome Back Kotter? That show about a teacher and his “gifted” group of students (and starred a young John Travolta). In the sitcom, real-life comedian Gabe Kaplan played Gabe Kotter, who returns as a teacher to the dysfunctional high school where he had been a student. The series ran from 1975–79, and Kaplan bought a home in Palm Springs, California with his earnings. “Up your nose with a rubber hose!”, sanitized from the original album line “Up your hole with a Mello-Roll!”, became an unlikely catchphrase from the show. It became so popular that a comedy record by Kaplan, Up Your Nose, was released by Elektra Records. The record, co-written and -produced by Kaplan, dented the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1977, peaking at #93.
Scott Helman’s Got Some “Hang Ups”, But That’s OK, It’s Just His New Single
Warner Music Canada recording artist Scott Helman returned to the studio earlier this Fall and emerged with three brand new tracks led by the effervescent single “Hang Ups.” The release of the single comes just a few days before Scott heads overseas to join the European leg of Vance Joy’s The Nation Of Two tour.
“Hang Ups” along with the song “Dostoevsky” were recorded earlier this Fall with producer Thomas “Tawgs” Salter who also produced Scott’s debut EP Augusta and fell-length album Hôtel De Ville. The third song, “Lifeguard” was produced by Brian Howes and Jason Van Poederooyen (Mother Mother, Simple Plan, Hinder). All three songs are available to stream or download HERE.
“‘Hang Ups’ was inspired by a FaceTime with my girlfriend which ended in a big fight,” Scott recalls. “Afterwards, I had an intense moment of anxiety, hoping I didn’t do too much damage. As someone with ADHD, I usually have 800 things going on in my brain at once. With the song, wanted to paint a picture of the feeling after a conversation where everything comes out wrong.”
Earlier this past summer, Scott Helman joined Vance Joy on five Canadian tour dates. The acts hit it off so well that before the final date, Vance had asked Scott to join him in Europe this fall. Immediately following the Vance Joy European tour, Scott returns to North America for a headlining club tour in the United States. Full itinerary below.
Scott Helman on tour:
With Vance Joy:
10/25 Madrid, ES Teatro Kapitol
10/26 Barcelona, ES Bikini
10/29 Paris, FR Elysee Montmartre
10/30 Brussels, BE La Madeleine
11/02 – 03 Amsterdam, NL Paradiso
11/05 Leipzig, DE Taubchenthal
11/06 Stuttgart, DE Wizemann
11/07 Bochum, DE Zeche
11/09 Zurich, CH Komplex 457
11/10 – 11 Vienna, AT WUK
11/16 – 17 Dublin, IE Olympia Theatre
Headline U.S. dates:
11/30 Boston,MA Café 939
12/01 New York City, NY Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2
12/02 Washington, D.C. Songbyrd
12/04 Cleveland, OH Beachland Tavern
12/05 Pontiac, MI The Pike Room
12/06 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
12/08 Buffalo, NY Iron Works
Zazie Beetz Explains Net Neutrality
Before you vote in the midterm elections this November, Zazie Beetz wants you to understand net neutrality.
Quavo Shows Off His Insane Jewelry Collection
Quavo, the brashest third of Migos, shows off his jewelry, from his busted-down glasses to his bold Crash Bandicoot piece, proving that no one can compete with the Atlanta rapper’s collection.
Kai Shappley: A Trans Girl Growing Up In Texas
An intimate portrait of Kimberly and Kai Shappley: a mother has to confront her religious community while her 7-year-old transgender daughter navigates life at school, where she’s been banned from the girls’ bathroom.
Moby Announces Second Book Of His Life: “The It Fell Apart”
What do you do when you realize you have everything you think you’ve ever wanted but still feel completely empty? What do you do when it all starts to fall apart? Then It Fell Apart is the second volume of Moby’s extraordinary life story, and is a journey into the dark heart of fame and the demons that lurk just beneath the bling and bluster of the celebrity lifestyle.
In summer 1999, Moby released the album that defined the millennium, PLAY. Like generation-defining albums before it, PLAY was ubiquitous, and catapulted Moby to superstardom. Suddenly he was hanging out with David Bowie and Lou Reed, Christina Ricci and Madonna, taking ecstasy for breakfast (most days), drinking bottles of vodka (every day), and sleeping with super models (infrequently). It was a diet that couldn’t last. And then it fell apart.
The second volume of Moby’s memoir is a classic about the banality of fame. It is shocking, riotously entertaining, extreme, and unforgiving. It is unedifying, but you can never tear your eyes away from the page.
It comes out on May 19, 2019, but you can pre-order it here.