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23 Dec 2022

Sia Gives Her Favorite ‘Survivor’ Season 43 Players Major Cash Prizes

Turns out Survivor contestants don’t necessarily have to outwit, outplay or outlast in order to win a big cash prize. That’s because Sia has once again given away huge spoils of her own to her favorite season 43 contestants.

In a video shared by Entertainment Weekly on Friday (Dec. 23), the pop star doled out $200,000 to three players who fell short of the CBS competition’s $1 million grand prize when the Sole Survivor was announced on Dec. 14.

“Hi, Jesse! It’s your biggest fan, Sia!” she begins during a video chat with Jesse Lopez, who finished in fourth place. “I really think that you deserved to win, and I think you just played the most epic, sneaky, wonderful game in the whole world. … So I wanted to give you $100,000.”

“Oh my god!” a shocked Lopez exclaimed.

The pop star then went on to share how much she was impressed by the love he has for his family, and how he has changed his life despite his difficult childhood. Sia added that she hoped Survivor would ask him back for another season. “I’ll try and boss Jeff into it,” she said of potentially pulling some strings with the show’s longtime host, Jeff Probst.

Owen Knight, who finished in third place, was another player who earned the Sia Award. “I just wanted to tell you that I really see you, and I really loved your personality and how beautiful and kind and, like, I’m used to being a bit of the underdog and a little bit of the outsider,” she told him. “I knew that I wanted to make sure that I gave you something just to lift your spirits, even, so I decided that I want to give you $50,000 just to say ‘I love you and keep going.’”

Sia then shared why his gameplay touched her so deeply. “You spoke for all the underdogs, and that meant a lot to me because I don’t say much publicly,” she explained to Knight. “So when other people say what I feel or mean, that makes me feel proud and that makes me feel seen as well.”

The third lucky contestant was Ryan Medrano, who also received $50,000. “You’re a totally beautiful, beautiful person,” she told Medrano, who was the 10th person voted out and the third member of the jury. “I love you! I was so bummed you were let go so soon! … You’re a beautiful person. Your vibe is awesome.”

Probst told EW that there are two reasons why Sia is so generous when it comes to the contestants. “She gets a lot of joy from watching Survivor players take on such a personal and often vulnerable life adventure,” he shared. “And she has been incredibly fortunate in her own career and wants to share some of that fortune with others.”

Earlier this year, the Survivor superfan also gave another of her favorite contestants a big cash prize. Drea Wheeler, who finished in seventh place on season 42, received $100,000 from the star. The nine-time Grammy nominee has also given three players from 2019’s Survivor: Island of the Idols a total of $215,000.

Watch the video of Sia surprising her favorite Survivor players of the season with big cash prizes:

23 Dec 2022

Chris Isaak’s Love of Holiday Music Runs Deep: Behind the Setlist Podcast

Chris Isaak doesn’t just dabble in holiday music — he’s loved it since growing up in Stockton, in California’s Central Valley, listening to Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Vince Guaraldi, Gene Autrey’s “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and Roy Orbison’s version of the Willie Nelson song “Pretty Paper.” Those influences come through on his latest album, Everybody Knows It’s Christmas, released Oct. 14 through Sun Label Group. 

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“I guess whatever you listen to when you’re a kid, that’s in your head and that’s really Christmas — because you’re never going to beat that excitement,” the singer tells Billboard’s Behind the Setlist podcast. 

Everybody Knows It’s Christmas is Isaak’s second studio album of holiday music. Ever since the first, 2004’s Christmas, Isaak has donned a red custom suit and gone on a brief holiday tour that mixes Christmas music with songs from his four-decade career, including “Wicked Game,” a No. 6 Hot 100 hit in 1991, and “Somebody’s Crying” from the 1995 album Forever Blue. “I’m terrible on dates, but it’s been a long time,” jokes Isaak about his holiday touring. “I’m on my second or third red suit.”

Isaak does justice to some beloved holiday standards. His cover of Chuck Berry’s “Run Run Rudolph” (titled “Run Rudolph Run” on the album) remains faithful to the original, hard-rocking version. His take on the normally upbeat “Winter Wonderland” creates a slow, shimmering ode to winter romance. The album closes with a moving rendition of “O Holy Night,” a suggestion by the album’s producer, Dave Cobb, who worked with Isaak in Nashville’s RCA Studio.

But Isaak bucked the tradition of covering someone else’s holiday songs and wrote eight out of the album’s 13 tracks. “When I’m writing [holiday songs] I’m thinking about — now, this doesn’t sound like me, but it’s me — I actually picture a family sitting around and listening to the thing. I hope that it’ll be something they can all listen to. And it’s kind of enough upbeat energy that they can put it in the background while they’re eating dinner and they can have their argument at the table and say, ‘Turn up the music,’ you know?”

Isaak’s sense of humor comes out in “Help Me, Baby Jesus,” one of the standout tracks on Everybody Knows It’s Christmas. In the song, thieves took off with a camera, the three wise men, Mary, the manger, floodlights and an extension cord. “Where I grew up, everybody would steal everything off your front yard,” he explains. “People had to watch the baby Jesus.

“That song will not be a hit,” Isaak continues. “But somewhere in America, there will be somebody who gets a nativity scene stolen, and their friend will go, ‘Hey, there’s a song for you.’” 

Listen to the entire conversation with Chris Isaak in the Behind the Setlist podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, Stitcher, Amazon Music or Audible. 

23 Dec 2022

Brooklyn Drill Rapper Dusty Locane in Jail for Gun Charges

Buzzing Brooklyn rapper Dusty Locane pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal possession of a weapon stemming from 2019 and 2020 offenses.

On Nov. 24, the drill artist posted to Instagram that he would be turning himself in on Nov. 30 to serve his sentence, which includes a mandatory minimum of one year with a maximum sentence of three years. “Been fightin [these] cases for damn near 4 [years],” the 23-year-old wrote in an Instagram caption. “Now I gotta go handle up ima take care of dis short bid n ima be bacc nine five times stronger ‼️”

Dusty Locane hasn’t let the time behind bars detract from his release cycle. The rapper dropped an EP, CATCH DA FLU, on Dec. 5 and shared a music video for album cut “WAY BACC,” re-released on his Halloween project, NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH. The burgeoning EMPIRE artist who boasts 3.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify alone is poised to be a major voice in the drill scene, with 2020’s “ROLLIN N CONTROLLIN FREESTYLE” peaking at No. 2 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

A childhood friend of the late Pop Smoke, Dusty Locane was born and raised in the Canarsie neighborhood of Brooklyn. New York Mayor Eric Adams has openly expressed his disdain for the rap subgenre, telling the press in February, “We pulled Trump off Twitter…yet we are allowing music, displaying of guns, violence. We’re allowing it to stay on these sites.” He went on to add that he wasn’t privy to drill until recently when his son, rapper Jayoo, showed him a few songs. “I had no idea what drill rapping was, but I called my son and he sent me some videos, and “It is alarming,” he said of the genre, suggesting that it should be banned on social media platforms.

In September, a number of drill rappers including Sha Ek, Ron Suno and 22Gz were removed from Rolling Loud New York’s lineup just one day before the festival was set to begin. The removal came at the request of the NYPD. “I don’t understand,” Suno told Billboard following the removal. Suno, who hails from the Bronx, claimed he has no criminal record or “problems with nobody in New York City.”

In 2019, five rappers, including Pop Smoke, 22Gz and Sheff G, were all removed from the Rolling Loud NY lineup mid-festival due to allegations of them being “affiliated with recent acts of violence citywide,” as the police department said in a letter to festival organizers at the time. The letter continued, “The New York City Police Department believes if these individuals are allowed to perform, there will be a higher risk of violence.”

In addition to Dusty Locane, other drill hopefuls including fellow Brooklyn native Sheff G and Bronx rapper Kay Flock are behind bars: Sheff G for second-degree gun possession and Kay Flock for a first-degree murder charge.

Per his Instagram, Dusty Locane is looking forward to serving out his sentence and returning to music. “ALIVE IS THE BEST PLACE TO BE. THEY LOCCED ME PHYSICALLY BUT MY MIND IS FREE,” he wrote on an Instagram post showing him in a blue prison uniform. “I APPRECIATE THE LUV N SUPPORT, FREE ME‼️”

23 Dec 2022

Morgan Wallen’s ‘You Proof’ Breaks Record as Longest-Leading No. 1 in Country Airplay Chart History

Morgan Wallen makes history on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart as “You Proof” leads the list (dated Dec. 31) for an unprecedented ninth week.

The song, released on Big Loud Records, dethrones two titles that dominated Country Airplay — which began in January 1990 — for eight frames each: Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett’s “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” (2003) and Lonestar’s pop crossover hit “Amazed” (1999).

In the tracking week ending Dec. 22, “You Proof” increased by 2% to 25.4 million audience impressions, according to Luminate. (As previously reported, this week marks a switch to a Friday-through-Thursday tracking schedule for Billboard’s individual-format airplay charts.)

“Breaking this record is simply a testament to a huge song and Morgan continuing to evolve and strengthen as a vital artist to country radio,” Big Loud vice president of promotion Stacy Blythe tells Billboard. “It also shows the consistent work ethic of the Big Loud radio team and support from radio. There were a lot of folks who stepped up on a holiday week to help us get here and it’s not taken for granted.”

Wallen co-wrote “You Proof,” a stand-alone single that in October became his seventh No. 1 on Country Airplay, with ERNEST, Ashley Gorley, Keith Smith and Charlie Handsome, the lattermost of whom also produced it with Joey Moi.

Meanwhile, Wallen’s “Thought You Should Know,” also a non-album single, pushes 11-10 on Country Airplay (16.4 million, up 14%). The song, which Wallen co-authored, becomes his eighth top 10 on the tally, while he boasts concurrent top 10s for the first time.

Another new Wallen track, “One Thing at a Time,” enters Country Airplay at No. 59 (576,000, up 56%). The song launched on the multi-metric Hot Country Songs chart dated Dec. 17 at No. 2; with “You Proof” at No. 1 and Wallen’s “Wasted on You” at No. 3 that week, he became the first act ever to monopolize the survey’s top three in a single frame.

23 Dec 2022

Pardison Fontaine Defends Megan Thee Stallion & Other Black Woman As Jury Deliberates Tory Lanez’s Fate

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The 21st BET Awards - Arrivals

Source: Penske Media / Getty / Pardison Fontaine

In a world full of Tory Lanez, ladies, get yourself a Pardi. The rapper/songwriter broke his silence to defend his boo, Megan Thee Stallion, and other Black women experiencing trauma.

 

Tory Lanez is the man on trial but based on terrible “reporting” from blogs and notable pundits like DJ Akademiks dropping unproven statements, Megan Thee Stallion is the one catching all the flack on social media.

The trial that has captivated social media and brought all of these so-called Tory Lanez fans out of nowhere has ushered in a wave of misogynoir.

Instead of focusing on Megan Thee Stallion being a victim of violence, as the facts have proven, the internet has scrutinized the 27-year-old Hip-Hop star for the number of men she allegedly slept with and being a young Black woman trying to enjoy her life and stardom.

You know, like her male counterparts always rap and boast about.

As the jury currently deliberates Tory Lanez’s fate, Pardi took to his Instagram account to prove that he is not embarrassed about the recent revelations regarding his lady and that he is an ally for her and other Black women.

“To any woman especially ones of color that has suffered an injustice I feel for you,” the “Hoop Earrings” crafter beings his message with.

He continues, “When you do find the courage to speak up it seems you will be ridiculed. Your credibility will be questioned. Your entire past will be held under a magnifying glass. In an instant you can go from victim to defendant in the eyes of the public.”

“To anyone with a daughter, sister, mother, niece or aunt, I pray for their protection. I pray for their covering. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

Word.

Tory Lanez Fate Hangs In The Balance

Pardi’s beautiful message came after the defense and prosecution issued their closing statements on Thursday, Dec. 22. The jury began deliberations but did not reach a verdict.

The prosecution again painted the “short guy” who was “firing everywhere,” as one eyewitness testified, as a man with a “bruised ego” who shot Megan Thee Stallion.

 

The defense did its best to paint Meg’s former best friend, Kelsey Harris, as the shooter. We shall see who the jury believes as they continue to deliberate on Christmas Eve.

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Photo: Penske Media / Getty

23 Dec 2022

Again: Orlando Brown Arrested For Alleged Domestic Violence

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New York Premiere of

Source: Theo Wargo / Getty

Orlando Brown is once again making headlines in a troublesome fashion as he’s been booked on a charge of domestic violence in Ohio.

According to reports, the former That’s So Raven star was detained by officers who reported to a report of a fight in progress on Thursday morning (Dec. 22nd) in Lima, Ohio. As they arrived, they found Brown involved in an altercation with a family member at the residence, which was revealed to be his brother Matthew. The former actor was arrested with the charge of “domestic violence – cause belief of imminent physical harm by the threat of force.” Brown is currently being held at the Allen County Sheriff’s Office without a bond being set.

When contacted by TMZ, Matthew Brown stated that the 35-year-old troubled actor had been staying at a home that he was renovating for two weeks because he didn’t want him to continue to live on the streets. He reportedly told officers that Orlando was acting “crazy”, accusing him of raping his wife before menacing him with the blade from a broken knife and a hammer. He also said that Orlando eventually set those objects aside.

The arrest marks another low point for Brown, who has been on a highly publicized downward spiral within the past few years due to his struggles with mental health and substance abuse. He infamously appeared on Dr. Phil in 2018 after numerous arrests that year and went on to deny that he needed help. The Proud Family alum also turned heads after getting a tattoo of his former co-star Raven-Symone on his chest, prompting friends to attempt to stage an intervention. Recently, Brown has gone viral through a series of video interviews for making a couple of outlandish claims which included one suggesting that he had sexual relations with Bow Wow and Nick Cannon. Both would go on to vehemently deny those accusations shortly after the videos were released.

23 Dec 2022

Charlie Cox Says Disney+’s ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ Won’t Be As “Gory” As Netflix’s Series

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Daredevil

Source: Marvel Studios / Disney+

For many Marvel fans one of the things they loved most about Netflix’s Daredevil series (aside from Charlie Cox’s brilliant performance) was the action scenes and violent fades that the Man Without Fear would dish on his enemies.

Unfortunately it seems that now the series is getting a new lease on life on Disney+, the excessive brutality that we’ve grown to love and appreciate will not be carrying over into Disney’s Daredevil: Born Again. In an interview with NME, the series star, Charlie Cox revealed that the rebooted series more than likely “won’t be as gory” as it’s predecessor. Confirming that the new series would begin shooting in February of 2023 and wrap up around the end of the year, Cox seemed convinced that the violence would be toned down for the Disney+ crowd. Cox isn’t upset with the change and is actually embracing the new Daredevil standards.

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“This has to be a reincarnation, it has to be different, otherwise why are we doing it?,” Cox stated. “My opinion is this character works best when he’s geared towards a slightly more mature audience. My instinct is that on Disney+ it will be dark but it probably won’t be as gory.” He knows there are people who will be hoping for simply a continuation of the previous series. “I would say to those people, we’ve done that. Let’s take the things that really worked, but can we broaden? Can we appeal to a slightly younger audience without losing what we’ve learned about what works?”

That cool and all but… we. Want. Violence. We kid we kid.

If that’s the case with Disney+’s rebooted Daredevil, what would that mean for a series like The Punisher? His entire calling card is violence and gore. Will Disney+ water down Frank Castle’s demeanor if they decide to revive that series too? Fans won’t be too happy about that one.

Still, it will be interesting to see what’s in store for Daredevil in Born Again as Disney ordered a whopping 18-episodes to kick things off. That’s a lot of time to work in new angles and stories for one of the MCU’s most underrated superheroes.

“I’m fascinated to discover why they’ve chosen to do 18,” he says. “I’m imagining there’s going to be an element to it that is like the old-school procedural show. Not necessarily case-of-the-week, but something where we go really deep into Matt Murdock the lawyer and get to see what his life is like. If that’s done right and he really gets his hands dirty with that world… I think there’s something quite interesting about that, to spend a lot of time in a superhero’s day-to-day life and you really earn the moments when he suits up.”

Hopefully we don’t get a happy-go-lucky devil when it’s all said and done.

What do y’all think of Disney+ toning down the violence in Daredevil? Let us know in the comments section below.

23 Dec 2022

Young Dolph Estate Announces Pop-Up Museum Exhibit Celebrating His Impact On Hip-Hop

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The Parking Lot Concert Presents Young Dolph's Official Album Release Concert

Source: Paras Griffin / Getty

Memphis rapper Young Dolph was tragically and violently killed Nov. 17 of last year shocking the Hip-Hop world and, especially, his community in his hometown at age 36.

Last week, Young Dolph’s estate released the emcee’s first posthumous LP Paper Route Frank. The estate also joined Paper Route Empire, the late rapper’s music label, and the Trap Music Museum in announcing that Dolp’s legacy in Hip-Hop will be celebrated through a touring pop-up museum exhibit.

From Hypebeast:

The touring pop-up will kick off in New York City on January 13 through 15. It won’t stop there but will continue in major cities across the country, including stops in Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta and Chicago.

Dolph was known for his philanthropy in Memphis, particularly involving youth and the public school system. Paper Route Empire CEO Daddy-O said that the goal of Dolphland is to “showcase the character of a leader and businessman” and inspire future entrepreneurs by spotlighting Dolph’s journey.

“Dolph has a great base of fans, and he loved going out and engaging with them. We wanted to do something that still provided a way for that engagement beyond just the music,” Young Dolph’s manager Allen Parks added. “We brought the idea to the Trap Music Museum, and they were excited to help bring a dope experience to life for all who will attend.”

Tickets for the exhibit, titled “Dolphland,” will go on sale Dec. 26. Not only will ticket-buyers get to view a display commemorating the “Get Paid” rapper and his impact on southern Hip-Hop, but they will automatically be entered into a contest to win $100,000. The winner will be announced at the end of the tour.

It’s unfortunate that rappers like Dolph are given their flowers like this only after they’re gone, but for his fans, his community and his legacy, this is a good look and well-deserved commemoration.

R.I.P. Young Dolph. You continue to be remembered and celebrated.

23 Dec 2022

This Amazon Prime Video Deal Gets You Paramount+, Showtime or Starz for Just $1.99

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If you’ve been looking to sign up for Paramount+, AMC+, Showtime, BET+, or Starz, Amazon launched a streaming deal on Friday (Dec. 23) that you’ll want to snag.

PrimeVideo Channels are $1.99 per month for up to two months with Amazon’s limited promo. The discounted streaming services usually cost up to $10.99 a month on their own, so this deal essentially gets you up to a $10 discount on a monthly subscription, or two full months of service for less than $2.

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Use the limited deal to get Showtime, where you can watch George & Tammy, The Chi, Billions, The Man Who Fell From Earth, I Love That For You, Yellowjackets, American Gigolo, Ziwe, Dexter and more. Or use it to get Paramount+ to stream live TV and Paramount+ Originals such as 1923, Tulsa King, Ink Master, The Offer, Halo, Evil, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, The Good Wife, Star Trek: Discovery and network shows including Big Brother, and Starz hits including Outlander, The Serpent Queen, Becoming Elizabeth, P-Valley, Gaslit and the entire Power franchise.

Other channels included in the Amazon streaming deal include AMC+, Discovery+, Epix, Lifetime Movie Club, Cinemax, ACORN TV, AllBlk, Hallmark Movies Now, Noggin and PBS Kids.

Prime Video Channels Deal: Paramount+, Starz and More

$0.99/month for up to 2 months

This deal ends Jan. 1, 2023, so you’ll want to act fast to save big. Keep in mind, you’ll need to be an Amazon Prime member to score the $1.99 streaming deal. Not a Prime member? Click here to start your free 30-day free trial. That’ll give you instant access to shop this Prime Channels deal along with holiday sales and more.

Amazon is also offering deals on Audible and Amazon Music Unlimited. Right now, you can get  three months of Amazon Music Unlimited for free for a limited time only. An Amazon Music Unlimited plan costs just $8.99/month after the free trial ends. See full details here.