Rising Chicago rapper Lil Moe 6Blocka continues his hot streak with another speaker-rattling song and vivid video, Nothin. Listen here and watch here. The single arrives on the heels of recent hits like Leave Em Stretchedand the simmering street anthemRiskyfeaturing 22Gz.
The bass-heavy anthem is another example of Moe’s verbal dexterity and ability to turn witty phrases into stylish storytelling. He again takes aim at his opps, warning them to stay out of the way because he isnߣt slowing down any time soon. The track is hypnotic and succinct, with Moeletting loose a barrage of bars before the beat fades. Nothinoffers another view of Moe’s post-drill style, bruising but effortlessly floating with the practiced flow of a seasoned veteran.
The video, directed by Billy Kauck, finds Moe in his hometown of Chicago,cruising in a black-on-black car, spitting bars outside of the window. Though the car is flashy, Moespends the video in an abandoned parking lot, shrouded in gray. The visual helps highlight Moe’s grit and hustle, taking moments to celebrate his come-up, but always returning to his roots. He’s alone and focused with a one-track-mind. He’s showing off the finer things in life, but he’s not letting anyone else get in his way.
Nothin is the latest in a string of exciting new releases from Lil Moe 6Blocka and another example of how the teen is capturing the imagination of his city. Thoughtful, intense songs like Ion Know have inspired tastemaking platforms like Lyrical Lemonade and Daily Chiefersto name Moe among the region’s hottest rising rappers. The Risky remix with 22Gz won even more acclaim, garnering attention from HotNewHipHop, Uproxx, andSTUPIDDOPE. HipHopDX even called the original version of Risky one of the best hip-hop songs of 2021. Lil Moe is the voice of a new generation in Chicago, a bridge between the drill scene of the 2010s and the next crew of superstars primed to take over the Windy City. He’s been surging through the streets garnering millions of views on his videos. With songs likeNothin out and more on the way, Moeclearly has no intentions of letting up anytime soon.
About Lil Moe 6Blocka
Lil Moe is Chicago’s newest star poised for the spotlight and, at just 16 years old, he’s hungry to prove his skyrocketing singles are the future. I see myself on every billboard in every city, everywhere. Everybody’s gonna know my name, he says with a confidence that he’s earning every day. On early effortlessly high-octane hits like Risky,Ion Know, What I Say, and 6Blocka, Moe already seems like a fully formed star. His videos are unfiltered and depict his life on the streets garnering millions of views. His voice growls with the aggression of Windy City legends like Chief Keef and G Herbo, but Moe relies on inventive wordplay and unparalleled charisma to stand out in a busy scene.
At 16, it’s nothing but a number for Moe, and he’s hell bent on proving himself in the music he’s making. Moe’s new songs reflect this confidence, but he’s aware the past is never too far behind. It’s this combination of unbridled optimism and the knowledge that things can always be worse that keeps him barrelling forward. Anyone who’s doubted me before probably wants to be close right about now. They’re trying to call back, and I ain’t trying to talk right now, he says.
Follow Lil Moe 6Blocka on his YouTube and Instagram for more upcoming releases!
A variety of photogenic animal encounters and tours have been added to Camel Safari’s Desert Ranch experience. Operating on 176 acres under wide-open desert skies 80 minutes north of Las Vegas, guests can choose from the “Feed With A Keeper Safari”, “Day Glamp Camp Safari” and “VIP Sunset Safari”. In addition, Camel Safari recently welcomed two Bactrian camel calves born in mid-March, as well as two sand cats and two New Guinea singing dogs.
Each safari experience begins with an educational program on the history of camels and camelids at Camel Safari’s picnic tables. Then, guests roam the property on a safari tram ride to see Dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, llamas, alpacas and a zedonk (hybird between a donkey and a zebra). During several stops on each tour, guests will have opportunities to learn more about the animals, ask questions and come face-to-face with Camel Safari’s ambassador camels.
Guests will also see Camel Safari’s newest exotic animal residents on these tours. Native to the Sahara Desert, Camel Safari’s new sand cats are small, wild cats known for resting in underground dens during the day and roaming the desert at night. Meanwhile, the newly added New Guinea singing dogs are closely related to the Australian dingo and known for their ability to dramatically vary the pitch of their howls.
Throughout the experience, guests can enjoy cold beverages and frozen treats. After each safari tram, guests will return to the property’s picnic area to continue to experience educational encounters with other animals. The three new safari experiences include:
Feed With A Keeper Safari
For guests interested in up-close experiences with dozens of amazing exotic animals, the Feed With A Keeper Safari offers an incredible outdoor adventure for small children and adults alike. Visitors will accompany Camel Safari’s resident zoologist, Allie Singer, alongside owner Guy Seeklus, on their morning animal feeding duties.
Day Glamp Camp Safari
The Day Glamp Camp Safari is an ideal adventure for the whole family. Groups of up to 10 will enjoy access to their own private safari tram rides as they accompany Camel Safari’s keepers on a tour of the property. Visitors will enjoy animal encounters and educational programs from resident zoologist, Allie Singer, alongside owner Guy Seeklus. Guests are also invited to create camel hair friendship bracelets and other crafts with some of the finest Bactrian camel fiber in the world.
VIP Sunset Safari
On this unforgettable VIP experience, guests will witness a breathtaking desert sunset and rare nocturnal animal encounters. Guided by Camel Safari’s resident zoologist, Allie Singer, alongside owner Guy Seeklus, guests will tour the property by a safari tram ride. Visitors will also enjoy up-close encounters with camels and other exotic animal species. For an additional charge, guests can savor a delicious dinner while enjoying the ranch’s distinctive ambiance.
About Camel Safari
Camel Safari offers a distinctive outdoor destination for conservation-focused animal encounters. Situated on 176 acres along the Virgin River 80 minutes north of Las Vegas, the ranch provides the perfect retreat for daytime excursions. Every Camel Safari adventure includes up-close animal encounters with the destination’s ambassador camels and the New Guinea singing dogs. The ranch’s exclusive and unforgettable location offers a picturesque desert landscape perfect for weddings, family reunions, corporate retreats, bachelor and bachelorette parties, birthday parties and more. Camel Safari maintains accreditation as a Disney-approved vendor as well as accreditation from the Zoological Association of America.
NEW ALBUM CONSEQUENCES OUT JUNE 18, PRE-ORDER AVAILABLE NOW
The song deals with the familiar concept of two lovers– one has already fallen in love and is waiting for the other lover to catch up. As David Lopez-Edwards says: “Joan is a great story teller through her music, and when I first heard the track I had this image of her sat in an old armchair telling the beautiful love story that is ‘Already There.’
I really wanted to be able to convey the emotion of the song in the video. I thought the best way of achieving that was to tell the story was through contemporary dance and have a dance couple interpret Joan’s lyrics, and tell what is essentially a very emotional narrative through their movement, expression and interaction. We were all blown away by the routine our choreographer Ainsley created, and it was truly magical seeing it brought to life by our two incredible dancers Zhané and Jared.”
Joan concurs: “The dance interpretation of my song ‘Already There’ is perfect.”
David Lopez-Edwards is well known for his creative videos and has previously worked with Kylie, Pet Shop Boys, Emeli Sande, KT Tunstall, Natalie Imbruglia, and Culture Club.
Joan‘s 22nd studio album to date, Consequences, is scheduled for release June 18th (Digital) and August 13 (CD/LP) via BMG. Consequences ably illustrates the fact that Joan Armatrading never likes to repeat herself. It is a very different follow up to 2018’s UK’s Top 30 hit album Not Too Far Away.
Of course, the change of musical pace will come as no surprise to Joan‘s many legions of world-wide fans. She has always been a pioneer in what she does, ever since the release of her first album in 1972 when her then record company, by their own admission, had little idea of how to present her, as Joan was so outside the norm. It should also be remembered that Joan Armatrading was the very first female singer/songwriter from the UK to have international success with the songs she wrote and performed.
Whether she’s playing a blinding electric guitar solo that would put many of the recognized ‘Guitar Heroes’ in the shade, or focusing on specific genres like jazz or blues, Joan has always gone where the muse takes her with no predictability attached. Repetition isn’t in her lexicon, even when composing the music for The Tempest and as demonstrated on the recently screened documentary about her career, “Me, Myself, I.” With her heartfelt, direct and melodic trademark vocal style, lyrics that tell it exactly how it is, and strong rhythmic flow throughout, Consequences is an album of some surprises. The album is couched in a passionate intensity that benefits from listening to it from start to finish. Consequences is a complete aural experience and an uncompromising tour de force that engages and gets better with every listen. The subject matter of the album is an intrinsically intimate topic –love in its many guises. This is not an album about Joan herself, but rather one written from observation. Joan has created songs that people can make their own, applying the lyrics to whatever their own particular circumstances might be.
The single, “Already There” is a perfect example of this as it details the common experience of one person in a couple already in love, while the other lover hasn’t emotionally arrived there yet.
Consequences in CD, vinyl and digital format is comprised of 10 tracks in total. All of the tracks are written, performed and produced by Armatrading.
Since the release of her last album, Joan has been made a CBE (from an MBE), Trustee of The Princes Trust, Ivor Novello Fellow, Americana Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and a Lifetime Achievement Award winner from Women of the Year. Joan completed a major sold-out UK and American tour in 2018 following a massive 235 date world tour in 2014/15.
Among many other accolades, she is the first female British artist to debut at number 1 in the Billboard Blues chart–where she stayed for 12 weeks and was the first ever female UK artist to be nominated for a Grammy in the blues category. Although touring is off the table for the immediate future, Joan will be giving a special, digitally streamed concert in support of the album later this year in September. Details of this are to be announced nearer the time of the concert.
After racking up millions of views and streams independently and attracting cosigns from the likes of Young Thug, Gucci Mane, and more, viral rap phenomenon Li Heat unleashes his new mixtape, Heatin Up. Along with the full project, an official video for “Victim” with Li Heat and Big 30 is out now. The Niles Bryant directed visual is a high-energy showcase of the duo’s combined lyrical skills.
The project showcases his growth as a red-hot artist-to-watch. Among multiple bangers, it boasts his breakout anthem “007,” which has amassed over 5 million YouTube views on its official music video and north of 1 million streams.
Additionally, Heatin Up flaunts fan favorites such as the wild “Young & Turnt” and his most recent drop “Intro.” Elsewhere on the project, he leans into airy keys on the proud Alabama anthem “Crimson Tide” [feat. Big Yayo] where he namechecks Crimson Tide heroes like DeVonta Smith. Everything concludes on “Bows” [feat. Manny Major]. He and Manny Major launch a lyrical crossfire accelerated by rapid fire cadences and tense production. With no shortage of rambunctious delivery, trap-flavored energy, and Alabama grit, it illuminates his rhyme prowess and cements him as a force to be reckoned with.
About Li Heat
Hailing from Birmingham, AL, Li Heat is the latest viral rap phenomenon poised to take over the industry’s new wave. Heat originally gained notoriety for his track “007”, an instant viral success and his biggest single to date. The rambunctious, trap-flavored, warm tune has now amassed more than two million views since uploaded to YouTube on May 27. The song’s simple, yet catchy setup has made fans out of everyone, including Young Thug and Gucci Mane (who he’s since collaborated with).
Li Heat’s style is catchy, bare-bones, and instantly memorable. He lists his inspirations as NoCap, Rylo Rodriguez, Tee Grizzley, Luh Soldier, and Lil Baby, incorporating traces of their influences into his rap style in a way that boldly creates its own, unique niche in rap’s crowded culture. It’s both familiar and yet different enough to make you intrigued. Now with the release of his debut project, which traces his growth as a musician, the Alabama-bred lyricist is on the verge of dominating the airwaves after only being in the industry for less than a year.
Hiking gear fabric has cooling effect that may make your next smartwatch more comfortable
Watch a video about this research on YouTube or read the full research paper here!
As smartwatches become more powerful, they will generate more heat. To prevent burns or rashes, what if a material touching the skin could feel as cool as metal, but also be flexible enough to be worn on the wrist?
A team of Purdue University engineers has discovered that a type of fabric typically used for hiking gear has remarkable heat-conducting properties on par with stainless steel, potentially leading to wearable electronics that successfully cool both the device and the wearer’s skin.
The material is made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, which are sold commercially under the brand name Dyneema. These polymer-based fabrics are marketed for their high strength, durability and abrasion resistance, and are often used to create body armor, specialty sports gear, ropes and nets.
Purdue heat transfer researchers recently investigated other uses for the fabric, namely as a cooling interface between human skin and wearable electronics (see a video about this research on YouTube). Their research is published in Scientific Reports.
This fabric has great flexibility and thermal properties. If you stitch it differently, weave it differently or start blending the polymers with different materials, you could tailor the fabric’s properties to different applications, said Justin Weibel, a research associate professor in Purdue’s School of Mechanical Engineering.
If a material has a high thermal conductivity, that means heat dissipates through the material more easily. There are many heat-dissipation methods for fabrics, from the simple (moisture-wicking); to the intricate (conventional fabrics with heat-conducting strands woven in); to the very complex (liquid-cooled garments worn by astronauts).
Your next smartwatch or virtual reality headset could be more powerful than your current smartphone, so we need to dissipate heat away from the electronic components to keep the wearer comfortable, said Aaditya Candadai, who recently completed his Ph.D. at Purdue doing research on this project. These polymer fabrics have amazing thermal properties that can keep these devices cooler and avoid low-degree skin burns.
The team discovered these properties by benchmarking Dyneema against conventional cotton fabrics, as well as polyethylene sheets in rigid non-woven form. They obtained several different commercially manufactured fabric samples and even wove their own samples from raw Dyneema fibers.
The researchers tested the fabric samples at the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Purdue’s Discovery Park. The samples went into a small vacuum chamber, with a metal wire laid across the surface as a heat source.
Using an infrared microscope, they could generate detailed data about how much heat was being conducted through the fabric’s surface, and in which direction. They found that the Dyneema fabric has 20-30 times higher thermal conductivity than other fabrics, comparable with steel.
The team also tested the fabric’s flexibility, which is important for wearable electronics.
There’s a balance; we don’t want to make thermally conductive materials that are so stiff, people won’t be comfortable wearing them, Candadai said. These polymer fabrics are in that sweet spot of having good conductivity and good flexibility.
The fabric naturally has these properties with no additional circuitry or other equipment, but the researchers also have plans to test how weaving in different materials affects the fabric.
We could integrate other types of fibers – carbon fibers, metal fibers – to achieve different combinations of properties, said Amy Marconnet, an associate professor of mechanical engineering.
As part of his work investigating the heat-conducting properties of fabrics, Candadai won an Art-In-Science award in 2019 for an infrared camera image showing how the fabrics transfer heat. The team’s research was performed within Purdue’s Cooling Technologies Research Center, a graduated National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center with support from industry leaders in thermal materials and electronics.
About Discovery Park
Discovery Park is a place where Purdue researchers move beyond traditional boundaries, collaborating across disciplines and with policymakers and business leaders to create solutions for a better world. Grand challenges of global health, global conflict and security, and those that lie at the nexus of sustainable energy, world food supply, water and the environment are the focus of researchers in Discovery Park. The translation of discovery to impact is integrated into the fabric of Discovery Park through entrepreneurship programs and partnerships.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at Purdue’s website.
AFTER 14 MONTH CLOSURE, NIXON LIBRARY REOPENS THEIR MUSEUM
Announces plans to honor First Responders, open Civic Education Center, expand opportunities for Young Leaders
The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum reopens today at 10:00 AM PT, with a red white and blue ceremony to welcome its first museum visitors since March of 2020. This is the first presidential library to reopen in the U.S. following month-long closures from the Covid-19 pandemic. Eight first responders and frontline workers will cut the ribbon to officially reopen the museum.
“After 14 challenging months, we couldn’t be more pleased to welcome visitors to the first presidential library in the country to reopen its doors,” Nixon Foundation President Hugh Hewitt said. “I’m grateful to our partners with the National Archives, to our community leaders for their continued support, and to our Foundation members for their dedication to our educational mission.”
Three new exhibitions await visitors to the Nixon Library:
The Presidents Club —briefly open for a few weeks last Fall— will reopen today. This originally-curated, storyteller exhibition chronicles the fascinating friendships and rivalries between some of history’s most well-known U.S. Presidents, from our Founding Fathers to the present day.
The President and The Planet, an outdoor exhibit perfect for all ages, that explores the consequential environmental initiatives of the Nixon administration.
Evening the Odds: Women Leading the Way, a permanent display on the legacy of the Nixon administration’s efforts to advance women in athletics, politics, and business.
The President’s original farmhouse birthplace reopens today as well. The Pat Nixon Rose Gardens continue to burst with color, filled with blooming, picturesque annuals, perennials and more. The Gardens —and the flower-ringed Memorial Site of President and Mrs. Nixon— are open and included with regular admission.
Additionally, Hewitt announced that Tricia Nixon Cox, on behalf of the Nixon Foundation, will lead a Rose Garden Party salute to scores of frontline workers and first responders on June 12, 2021. The Foundation has invited representatives from charities with which it worked to coordinate its 14 month-long Conquering Covid campaign.
Hewitt also announced the Nixon Foundation’s intention to create and ultimately endow a Civic Education Center at the Nixon Library.
Hewitt said: “President Nixon was committed to bringing young Americans into the political process; he advocated for the 26th amendment to lower the voting age to 18, and for expanding educational opportunities wherever possible. In that spirit, I’m proud to redouble the Nixon Foundation’s commitment to its educational mission by partnering with Southern California educational institutions to promote civic learning and fill a void that exists in our school systems today.”
The Foundation will invest in its online distance learning initiatives and in-person civic education programs for high school students and teachers, and plans to operate them frequently.
“One of the Nixon Foundation’s major post-pandemic priorities is to ensure that the basic pillars of American citizenship are alive and well among school-aged Americans,” Hewitt added.
After closing the Nixon Library’s doors in March of 2020, the Nixon Foundation continued its work by having:
Coordinated a 14-month campaign to support first responders by hosting more than 40 blood drives, four food drives and acquiring and donating 700,000 masks to schools, small businesses and medical workers.
Migrated its educational mission fully online by adopting new distance learning initiatives.
Hosted then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and then-EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler for major policy announcements in July and September 2020, respectively.
Launched The Nixon Seminar on Conservative Realism and National Security, a monthly online gathering of senior statesmen and rising specialists in various aspects of great power competition and American national security to discuss issues of current and continuing importance to the nation’s interests abroad.
Enhanced its iconic rose gardens and renewed its partnership with the American Rose Society to keep the flowers looking beautiful.
Introduced “The President’s Society,” a new level of membership support open exclusively to millennials.
The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum is open every Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The museum and federal spaces are open according to federal COVID-19 requirements, while requirements in the privately-managed Nixon Foundation spaces will continue to align with guidance from the State of California and the County of Orange.
Visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance of their visit by going to this website.
Mission-based events, speakers’ series programming and privately-contracted events at the Nixon Library are gradually resuming in accordance with guidelines issued by the State of California.
Respect is a new biopic that covers an iconic female performer, Civil Rights Activist, and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.
It will star another icon in her own right, Jennifer Hudson, as Franklin. This is not her first time acting, and has also been in films like Spike Lee’s Chi-raq and in the first season of the Fox hit series: Empire. Given her background as a singer, her acting chops and what we’ve seen of the film so far, I’m certain Hudson will be excellent. The film also stars Forest Whitaker (Star Wars, Black Panther) and Tituss Burgess (The Unbreakable Kimmy Shmidt.)
According to Billboard, the film has had a rough journey, being originally slated for release in the fall of 2020, and has been delayed several times due first to the pandemic and then because of a number of other factors. Thankfully, the film is finally set to release so we’ll get to see the film that’s been in the works for so long.
Director Liesl Tommy makes her feature film debut with Respect. She’s previously been known for directing plays. Tommy is the first Black woman ever nominated for a Tony award for Best Direction of a Play in 2016 for Eclipsed, and is an Associate Artist at the Berkeley Rep and an Artist Trustee with the Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees.
With a story by Callie Khouri (Oscar® winner for Writing, Thelma & Louise) and Tracey Scott Wilson, and screenplay written by Tracey Scott Wilson. Wilson and Tommy have worked together creatively since the 2009 play The Good Negro written by Wilson, directed by Tommy at The Public Theatre. Wilson was a writer on FX’s hit series: The Americans which garnered her a Peabody Award as well as an Emmy® and WGA Award nominations.
The film is set to release in theatres on August 13, 2021. To watch the new trailer, click HERE.
JENNIFER HUDSON ANNOUNCES ORIGINAL SONG FROM ARETHA FRANKLIN BIOPIC RESPECT: “HERE I AM (SINGING MY WAY HOME)” CO-WRITTEN WITH CAROLE KING OUT FRIDAY
RESPECT ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK OUT AUGUST 13 VIA EPIC RECORDS
IMPACTING RADIO ON JUNE 21
Academy® Award-winning actress and GRAMMY® Award-winning recording artist Jennifer Hudson announces a new original song entitled “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home),” co-written with four time GRAMMY® Award winner, Kennedy Center Honoree, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee Carole King (marking their first collaboration) and Jamie Hartman [Lewis Capaldi, Christina Aguilera] out Friday. GRAMMY® Award-winning Black Eyed Peas co-founder and mega-producer will.i.am produced the track. Hudson announced the collaboration on her social platforms this morning – HERE.
Paving the way for Hudson’s blockbuster bigscreen turn as Aretha Franklin, it will appear on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack to RESPECTand serve as the film’s only original song. Hudson was handpicked by Franklin to portray her in the film from MGM, which opens in theatres nationwide on August 13. The soundtrack will be available on the same day.
Get “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” HERE Friday via Epic Records.
Hudson added, “Music is such a living and breathing character in this film, as it was in Ms. Franklin’s life. The process of creating this song was like constructing the greatest tribute I could possibly offer to her spirit. It was the final exhale of this extraordinary project and one that I let out with complete fulfillment. Being able to do so with Carole and Jamie was an incredible privilege. Carole is one of the greatest songwriters of all time and, whether we were trading stories, playing piano together over video conference, or working through lyrics, it was always a masterclass – both in life and music. Jamie and I have collaborated together in the past and it’s always so wonderful to create with him – he is continuously thinking outside of the box in a way that deepens the musical experience in indescribable ways. Our goal was to show that music was always the anchor for Ms. Franklin, in all that she did, and I hope this song illustrates the strength of her voice – both literally and figuratively – which always brought her home.”
About the collaboration, King commented, “Writing a song with Jamie Hartman and Jennifer Hudson felt both familiar and fresh at the same time. The process of songwriting continues to amaze me. One minute there’s nothing, and then a song grows out of the seed of an idea. The seed was dormant when Jennifer, Jamie, and I first met virtually. Jennifer and I had previously performed together, and I was excited about writing with her for no less than a film called Respect in which Jennifer plays Aretha Franklin! I’m so pleased to have not just one but two songs as part of the soundtrack of Respect-the 21st century song “Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” and my 20th century co-write with Gerry Goffin, “(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman.”
Epic Records Chairwoman and CEO Sylvia Rhonesaid, “What Jennifer, Carole, and Jamie have created together is nothing short of historic. It celebrates the legacy of Aretha Franklin by channeling her spirit and style in an original, no less. As soon as I heard it, I was speechless. It has all the elements of a future American songbook staple.”
“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” highlights Hudson’s earthquaking range with a seismic crescendo. Right out of the gate, she proclaims, “It’s time for me to sing” over glorious church organ before twinkling piano wraps around her vocals. It officially impacts Hot AC and Urban AC on Monday June 21.
One of the biggest, boldest, and brightest voices in contemporary music, Jennifer Hudson stands alone. Not only is she a two-time GRAMMY® Award winner and best-selling author, but she has received an Academy® Award, a Golden Globe®, and countless other honors as an actress. Her self-titled 2008 debut Jennifer Hudson earned a platinum certification, the 2011 follow-up I Remember Me went gold, and 2014’s JHUD drew a GRAMMY® nod. She has starred in films ranging from Dreamgirls and Sex and the City to Chi-Raq and Sing, in addition to taking over Broadway in The Color Purple, for which the soundtrack garnered Hudson another Grammy win. Along the way, she became a best-selling author and served as a coach on The Voice UK and U.S. In 2019, she appeared as Grizabella in the big-screen adaptation of Cats, and she also contributed “I’ll Fight” to the critically acclaimed documentary RBG, garnering an Academy® Award nomination. In 2021, she stars as Aretha Franklin in director Liesl Tommy’s highly anticipated biopic Respect, of which she is also an executive producer. Franklin personally chose Hudson to star. She will be releasing new music soon.
Jennifer Hudson and RESPECT dazzled the crowd Sunday night at a premiere fit for a queen
Celebrating the legacy of Aretha Franklin was director Liesl Tommy and costars Marlon Wayans, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Audra McDonald, Tate Donovan, Hailey Kilgore, Saycon Sengbloh, Skye Dakota Turner, screenwriter Tracey Scott Wilson, producers Scott Bernstein, Jonathan Glickman and Stacey Sher, and more.
Other guests included Timbaland, Jennifer Holliday, Debbie Allen, Michael K. Williams, Tori Kelly, Derek Hough, Jordin Sparks, and more
After the premiere, attendees celebrated outside, complete with food trucks and music from Donald Taylor and the LA Mass Choir. Aretha Franklin’s granddaughter Grace Franklin graced the audience with her grandmother’s favorite song, “Ain’t No Way,” and Aretha’s son Edward Franklin sang “My Girl.”
Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.
DIRECTOR: Liesl Tommy
SCREENPLAY BY: Tracey Scott Wilson
STORY BY: Callie Khouri and Tracey Scott Wilson
PRODUCERS: Harvey Mason Jr., Scott Bernstein, p.g.a., Jonathan Glickman, Stacey Sher
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jennifer Hudson, Liesl Tommy, Sue Baden-Powell, Aaron L. Gilbert, Jason Cloth
CAST: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Kimberly Scott, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Heather Headley, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan and Mary J. Blige
RATED: PG-13
FROM METRO GOLDWYN MAYER PICTURES, IN ASSOCIATION WITH BRON CREATIVE AND ONE COMMUNITY
ABOUT RESPECT
From MGM, Respect follows the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church’s choir to her international superstardom, Respect is the remarkable true story of Franklin’s journey to find her voice.
The World’s Premier Swim-Bike-Run Series, Super League Triathlon 2021, Will Be In The U.S for the First Time At The Iconic Malibu Triathlon, Offering One Of The Greatest Spectacles In Sports
The World’s Best Athletes Battle It Out For Championship Title
Super League Triathlon (SLT),the world’s premier swim-bike-run series, today announced they will debut in the U.S. at the iconic Malibu Triathlon on Sept. 25 & 26, 2021.This exciting new pro race pitches the very best athletes from around the globe against each other offering one of the greatest spectacles in sports for some thrilling racing to battle it out for the championship title.
Over the course of the season, the top male and female triathletes from around the world will compete in quick and exciting race formats to be crowned the best all-round triathlete. The Championship Series is equally split between male and female competitors: 20 men and 20 women at the start line hoping to get the better of one another across whichever of Super League’s unique race formats are being employed on that day.
U.S. high-profile athletes include Katie Zaferes–pro-triathlete, former olympian & current SLT Champion, as well as Taylor Spivey–pro-triathlete, from the local community of Redondo Beach. This new pro race will bring in more spectators and media broadcast opportunities for the event as a whole.
Super League Triathlon CEO and co-founder, Michael D’hulst, said, “We handpicked the Malibu Triathlon for this investment due to its incredible history in sprint and Olympic distance racing and its incredible potential for Super League Triathlon.”
“Acquiring the Malibu Triathlon is a perfect opportunity for Super League to move into the USA and build our presence in a region that already has a strong affinity with our exciting and dynamic racing and the content that we offer. It also aligns with our wider strategy to add more major cities and regions to our portfolio,” D’hulst continues.
SLT acquired the Malibu Triathlon last year. The Malibu Triathlon is the most iconic triathlon in the world, taking place in one of the most beautiful locations–Malibu, CA–for 34 years.
The prestigious event has welcomed world-class athletes as well as Hollywood stars such as Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron and J.Lo during its long and illustrious history, securing Super League Triathlon a significant entry into the U.S. market.
TheMalibu Triathlon has a strong foundation as a media presence. The Malibu Triathlon has hosted celebrities and the top LA Corporations to raise over $1 million each year for pediatric cancer research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). Over $15 million has been raised for the hospital to date.
5,000 participants and 10,000 spectators will take part in the event weekend on Sept. 25-26, 2021. There are two distances available – Olympic and Classic.
TheOlympic Distance (1.5K Swim, 40K Bike, 10K Run) race takes place on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021 and the Classic Distance (½ Mile Swim, 17 Mile Bike, 4 Mile Run) takes place onSunday, Sept. 26, 2021.The SLT Pro Race will be the newest addition to the Malibu Triathlon, taking place at noon after the Olympic distance race ends on Saturday.
Pornhub Announces Remastured, An Initiative That Restores Century-Old Erotic Films to Titillating Technicolor with Modern AI Technology, The adult entertainment platform used machine learning and over 100,000 adult videos and images from its library to educate the AI in the subtleties in colorizing vintage porn for the modern age
Pornhub, the premier online destination for adult entertainment, today announced the launch of Remastured, an innovative project that employs the latest AI (artificial intelligence) technology to restore some of the oldest – and steamiest – erotic films ever produced. The company used machine learning and over 100,000 adult videos and images from its library to colorize vintage porn for today’s modern audience. Viewers are transported back in time to experience 20th century-old erotic films featuring voluptuous Victorians and silent seductors in titillating technicolor with The Remastured Film Library.
Since the moment someone figured out how to record moving images, people have been making adult movies, said Pornhub. We thought it was important to not only preserve but modernize these films, and we are very excited to include this selection of artfully restored vintage material to our library, allowing users to indulge in old school erotica from a bygone era.
It is common practice in film to colorize and restore even the most antique footage. However, the algorithms generally available are lacking since standard deep-learning models are trained with millions of SFW images, not nude or even pornographic ones.
By introducing the AI to Pornhub’s massive content library, it learned a naughty new trick; how to detect the subtle shades of penises, nipples, and turn-of-the-century bush. Transforming these centennial masterpieces into modern content resulting in The Remastered Film Library; A collection of 20 visually stunning scenes ranging from the 1890’s to the 1940’s, featuring the work of film pioneers like Thomas Edison and George Méliès and elaborate plots of the modern porn aficionado’s favorite categories: co-eds, masseurs, orgies, threesomes, foursomes, spankings, cosplay, strap-ons, and more. The variety is impressive, but it’s the kinky content that will keep you coming back for more.
The process – which utilized several AI algorithms with limited human intervention – included:
Preparation of images: noise reduction, sharpening and contrasting
Colorizing using deep learning
Boosting to 60 frames per second (fps)
Rescaling to crisp 4K resolution
Digital remastering: cleaning artifacts, stabilization, and flickering reduction
Remastering audio or adding a new audio track
To develop the machine-learning algorithm, we paired black and white images, along with the colorized version. Through testing, the AI was able to generalize its comparative findings and colorize images provided previously to colorizing images it had never seen.
Pornhub’s Remastured campaign is a collaborative initiative with creative agency Officer & Gentleman and creative studio Espada Santacruz.
Pornhub has a history of supporting the preservation of early erotic films. The company previously partnered with the Museum of Sex in New York City in 2019 to present STAG: The Illicit Origins of Pornographic Film. Exclusively curated by the Museum of Sex, the interactive exhibition featured films demonstrating the major aesthetic and thematic trends that shaped the early history of illicit film. Later that year, Pornhub partnered with Maccarone fine art gallery in Los Angeles to present The Pleasure Principle, a multi-disciplinary and pan-generational all female art show where artists were invited to share work depicting their respective interpretations of pleasure. The show included work from Marilyn Minter, Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin and more. Most recently, Pornhub hosted the online premier of SHAKEDOWN, the critically-acclaimed documentary art film centered around the Black lesbian stripper scene in early Los Angeles by filmmaker and vanguard artist Leilah Weinraub. The digital event included a viewing of the documentary and a series of Q&A live chats with Weinraub to simulate the experience of watching the film together.
About Pornhub
Founded in 2007, Pornhub is the leading free, ad-supported adult video streaming website, offering viewers the opportunity to upload and share their own videos. With over 3 million videos and over 130 million visitors a day, Pornhub truly is the best adult site in the world. Pornhub has built the largest dedicated membership base in the adult community, averaging over 76 million monthly active members, offering viewers a fun and sophisticated social experience directly insite, complete with messaging, photos, achievement badges, and much more.
Reebok Confirms 20th Anniversary Revival of Iconic Answer IV “Stepover,” Available June 4
Today, following the revival of is coveted OG predecessor, Reebok has confirmed the official 20th Anniversary rerelease of Allen Iverson’s Answer IV “Stepover” (retailing at $130).
Introduced by Reebok for Iverson ahead of his momentous 2000-01 campaign, Answer IV was built to compliment the polarizing point guard’s on-court energy and off-court style, while carrying forward key Answer-series design elements like DMX cushioning. Colorways introduced by Reebok throughout the season would mark a multitude of historic moments via A.I. Most notable is a specific black and white iteration, now known as the “Stepover,” adorned by Iverson in game 1 of the ’00-’01 title matchup. The moniker nods an historic moment from the game in which A.I. shakes his opponent to the floor with a deceiving dribble move before draining a baseline jumper and stepping over the would-be defender as the crowd erupts and he returns up court. That viral frame, which served to further define Iverson’s vitality and dominance, is remembered through the Answer IV “Stepover.”
“Answer IV is the crown jewel of Iverson’s journey and the cultural shift he helped to lead,” recalled veteran Reebok Footwear Designer Xavier Jones upon the OG model’s rerelease earlier this year. “By his ’00-’01 season, ‘Chuck’ was already so beloved for his style and how he approached the game, but that year truly cemented A.I. as a cultural icon. On his feet, Answer IV became a symbol for the new era of modern athlete and a celebration of self-expression. It is without a doubt one of the most iconic sneakers to ever grace the hardwood.”
The 20th Anniversary reissue stays true its original design elements like the fading gradient “I3” logo cascading down the tongue veiled by the zipper shroud, 3M reflective details returning to the “I3” quarter panels and top of tongue, the original eye-catching upper and a dynamic outsole featuring DMX foam, a TPU bridge plate and tactical tread patterns. The outsole is complemented by OG graphic executions like the Iverson head sunken underfoot, engraved “Only The Strong Survive” tagline and “I3” and Vector logos at the bridge and forefoot.
While Answer IV carries forward Reebok basketball heritage and the legacy of Allen Iverson, the unique sneaker is equally fitting for rising hoopers today writing their own story.
Reebok’s Answer IV “Stepover,” retailing at $130, will be available globally on June 4 from Reebok and select local retailers.
MORE ABOUT REEBOK’S DMX CUSHIONING TECHNOLOGY
A product of Reebok’s Advanced Concepts division formed in the mid 1980s, DMX (short for Dynamax) featured a series of interlinked air chambers under the foot that, thanks to the motion of the wearer’s stride, would fill and empty with air accordingly. If the wearer’s foot movement indicated that air was needed in a specific portion of the shoe, pressure would cause air to fill the corresponding chamber. This movement of air helped deliver new levels of comfort, cushioning and stability. The technology was suited for running, training, walking and basketball, but it really shone in the DMX Run 10 model in 1997. That same year, the original Answer basketball sneaker was released in time for Christmas, marking the beginning of an iconic line of shoes that thrived until 2014. As Reebok’s first basketball shoe to include DMX technology, commercials for the Answer emphasized how the new technology helped Iverson pull off his classic moves like the crossover. The effects of the DMX technology were so natural that Iverson said, “It’s like I don’t even think about it.”
ABOUT REEBOK Reebok International Ltd., headquartered in Boston, MA, USA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of fitness and lifestyle footwear, apparel and equipment. An American-inspired global brand, Reebok is a pioneer in the sporting goods industry with a rich and storied fitness heritage. Reebok develops products, technologies and programming that enable movement so people can fulfill their potential. Reebok connects with the fitness consumer wherever they are and however they choose to stay fit – whether it’s functional training, running, combat training, walking, dance, yoga or aerobics. Reebok Classics leverages the brand’s fitness heritage and represents the roots of the brand in the sports lifestyle market.
