Rappers love to be rockstars. The aesthetic around being this untouchable, larger-than-life figure is extremely alluring. But rarely do you hear of rockstars wanting to be rappers. Unless you’re Kid Rock, it’s not often you get your average rocker busting out rhymes or taking inspiration from the grandiose rap personality.
But Fall Out Boy was never the average band either. Considering they featured 2 Chainz in a music video for “My Songs Know What You Did in The Dark“, they’re clearly not averse to hip-hop. It wasn’t just general aesthetic, though. Pete Wentz found massive inspiration in his songwriting by listening to the best rappers of the moment.
In 2006, that was all Lil Wayne. He was going around touting himself as the ‘best rapper alive.’ Frankly, he wasn’t wrong to think so either. He rapped in an absolutely dizzying amount of punchlines that even put Jay-Z to shame.
Naturally, at the time, Pete Wentz was trying to apply that apex form of lyricism to Fall Out Boy. In a 2006 interview with MTV, he talked about some interests that their fans might not have immediately expected from them. He declared Weezy the best lyricist working and highlighted a line that left him especially impressed.
How Pete Wentz and Fall Out Boy Learned From Lil Wayne in the Songwriting Department
“And as far as lyrics go, I’ve been taking a lot of influence from the best lyricist of the past year: Lil Wayne. He’s insane. There’s this one song [‘Hit ‘Em Up’] where he goes, ‘I eat up catastrophe/ Swallow the truth/ And belch reality,’ and I’m like ‘Wow,'” Pete Wentz recalled.
Additionally, the Fall Out Boy bassist marveled that Patrick Stump was just as into R&B and Motown vocally as he was in rock and roll.
“There’s a song we’re calling ‘Me and You,’ and in it, Patrick is doing things that are straight-up Motown,” Wentz added. “If there wasn’t a rock band playing, it’d be straight R&B, and he’d go on tour with just an upright bass and a drum and open up for R. Kelly.”
As far as Lil Wayne is concerned, he believed his own hype just as much as Fall Out Boy did. In 2007, he told XXL that anyone hating on him needs to treat him the way you would civil rights activists.
“Darling, I don’t care what nobody think. Talk to me like you talking to Martin Luther King or Malcolm X. You’re not about to ask him about what he think about what somebody said about him. You ’bout to ask him about his greatness, and his greatness only. I don’t care what nobody think,” Lil Wayne scoffed.
In the 1990s, the rise of hip-hop led to the rise of R&B. At this point, R&B blended the beats and rhythms of hip-hop with soul vocals. 90s R&B artists created timeless ballads that guided millennials through their first experience with love. Love may hurt sometimes, and these R&B hits taught us how to really feel it.
“Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey
This song will make it hard not to think of a former lover. Even if you don’t have someone to miss, and many teenagers didn’t, this track almost made you wish you had someone to miss. Released in 1995, “Always Be My Baby” fell right in the middle of Mariah Carey‘s dominance on the charts in the 90s. She earned an incredible 14 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 during the decade. “Always Be My Baby” topped the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart in February 1996. Her fifth album, Daydream, generated three No. 1 hits out of five singles released. She’s still among the most decorated artists of all time.
“Every Time I Close My Eyes” by Babyface
For this 1997 single, Babyface brought together some of the best musicians in mainstream music. Famous saxophonist Kenny G provides soprano saxophone, while Mariah Carey provides additional vocals. On the drums, we hear the “Queen Of Percussion”, the one and only Sheila E. When you bring together these world-class artists, the result is a hit single. “Every Time I Close My Eyes” peaked at No. 5 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in early 1997.
“All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo
This one has millennials singing along to “All my life, I’ve prayed for someone like you” when we hadn’t even been on Earth for more than two decades. We weren’t really waiting that long, but it felt like it. That’s the power of 90s R&B ballads like this. They could make anyone feel like they’ve been praying all their lives for a love like this. Soul and passion in R&B peaked with this. It earned the duo three Grammy nominations. Released in March 1998, “All My Life” peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the most successful R&B singles of the latter half of the decade.
Former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing is in hot water with fans. The legendary rocker released a controversial AI-assisted music video from his band, KK’s Priest. In it, Downing, ex-Judas Priest singer Tim “Ripper” Owens, and the band cover Judas Priest’s 1974 classic song “Never Satisfied”.
The clip features live performance footage of the band along with an AI-generated version of Downing as a young man on his journey to becoming a heavy metal godfather. “Yes, this is my life now, and I will not be content until I find out what is missing from all of our lives,” the AI-Downing avatar says in the clip. “There is something very special out there that so many need, and until I find it, I will never be satisfied.”
JPSR Studio, the company that made the video, acknowledges on its website that it uses AI tools in its video production.
KK’s Priest, featuring KK Downing, dropped a Judas Priest cover with an AI-assisted music video
“AI film today is where online video was twenty-six years ago – dismissed by the same rooms that will depend on it within a decade,” the company states. “We were part of pioneering the first wave. We intend to be part of pioneering this one. This isn’t just AI. It’s videography, special effects and sound engineering – a full production discipline – with an AI-native pipeline inside it.”
The new music video has certainly sparked some conversation, and not all of it pleasant. “Ugh! Do we need more AI today?” one person asked sarcastically. Someone else commented, “KK, you are Judas Priest; this version kills! The AI video sucks, but you are my hero.”
Speaking about the video, Downing defended the use of AI. “That video could not have been made without today’s modern technology – bringing myself to life in such an accurate way is quite beyond belief,” he said, per Louder. “It’s basically bringing to life something that’s absolutely impossible to create or film today without it.”
Additionally, Downing commented on the difference between Owens and longtime Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford. It was Halford who originally sang on “Never Satisfied”.
“Two great singers and performers,” says Downing. “I mean, you know, it’s going to be tough. I guess the main thing is that Rob would be associated with the archive legacy, the original going back when. But obviously, Ripper is sort of capable of doing the same thing, but with a slightly different delivery and tonality of the voice.”
In 1994, Green Day’s third album, Dookie, pushed pop-punk into the mainstream. Throughout the late 90s, countless other pop-punk bands emerged. This coincided with the rise of skateboarding in the 1990s, with the sport becoming widely popular in the late 90s. With skateboarding on the rise, many millennials attempted to take up the hobby, resulting in some harsh slams on concrete. Skateboarding culture and pop-punk went hand in hand in the 90s, and these pop-punk bands gave millennials the courage to take these harsh slams on a skateboard.
Less Than Jake
Formed in Gainesville, Florida, in 1992, Less Than Jake blended together pop-punk and ska punk at a time when the two genres were beginning to take over the alternative music world. They released their debut album, Pezcore, in 1995, before joining a major label. Now signed with Capitol Records, the band released their 1996 sophomore album, Losing Streak. They followed up in 1998 with Hello Rockview, produced by Howard Benson, who would go on to work with bands such as My Chemical Romance. With these albums, Less Than Jake was at the forefront of the skate-punk movement from the late 90s into the early 2000s.
Blink-182
As Green Day dominated the mid-to-late 90s, Blink-182 started to benefit from their momentum, launching into the mainstream with their 1997 sophomore album, Dude Ranch. Their 1995 debut, Cheshire Cat, established the group’s signature sound, but they became a mainstream success with their follow-up. It was the last to feature original drummer Scott Raynor, who then left the group in 1998.
By this point, Blink-182 was on a fast track to match the success of Green Day. Dude Ranch peaked at No. 67 on the Billboard 200, but landed at No. 1 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. In 1999, their third album, Enema Of The State, was the first to feature iconic punk drummer Travis Barker. This completed the band’s legendary trio lineup. Enema Of The State was a huge commercial success at the end of the 90s, peaking at No. 9 on the US Billboard 200.
MxPx
MxPx were another dominant skate-punk band in the 1990s. They released three defining pop-punk albums in the mid-90s, all a year apart. In 1994, they released their debut album Pokinatcha. They followed up in 1995 with Teenage Politics, featuring some of their most popular songs such as “Punk Rawk Show”.
Their 1996 album, Life In General, is considered to be the band’s masterpiece. It features the essential 90s pop-punk anthem, “Chick Magnet”. MxPx is a band that was known to be closely associated with 90s skateboarding culture. They even used skateboarding in their imagery. An example of this is the cover art of the band’s 1998 B-sides and rarities album, Let It Happen.
Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man, who got to hear the album for the first time thanks to Pablo Torre Finds Out. | Getty Images
Wu-Tang's Once Upon A Time in Shaolin album has, for the most part, been extremely difficult to listen to, but you can now hear two snippets of the album thanks to the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out, which just published an episode all about the exclusive record.
Once Upon A Time in Shaolin has a long history, which Pablo Torre Finds Out goes into in detail. Disgraced pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli bought the only copy of the album, which cannot be commercially released until 2103, in 2015 at auction. Shkreli had to forfeit the album to the US government, and the government sold it in 2021 to the crypto art collective PleasrDAO, whi …
Britney Spears has long been the prototype pop star for many. When looking at the modern superstars today, all of them emulate what she did to some degree. Whether it’s the dancing, the singing, or just the general look and aura of her, she was the blueprint for a lot of artists.
But Spears didn’t become this influential out of nowhere. Even she admired other pop and R&B stars to become the seismic force in pop culture she became. For her, that person was always Janet Jackson. On an Instagram post, she paid tribute to The Velvet Rope legend.
In the caption, she recalled being a young teenager, watching her music videos in awe. For Britney Spears, it was an experience she could hardly understand. But she knew she wanted to experience her magnetism over and over again.
“At 13 years old, if a Janet Jackson video came on the TV, my mouth dropped open,” she wrote. “I kept repeating in my head, ‘No, no. Please come back, I wanna see that again. Where the hell did that come from?’ It was her ability to be incredibly mysterious, so dark with a vibe that sucked you in immediately, and then this haunting, simple, angelic tone.”
Britney Spears Honors Janet Jackson With a Post on Instagram
Then, Spears admired her stylistic choices as a vocalist and as an entertainer. “[Janet Jackson’s] not trying to be sexy, she just is,” she continued. “She can’t help it. She has always been god to me. She’s not just a singer, she is an entertainer in people’s eyes. Not only do adults feel her presence in such a spellbound way, she’s able to captivate the hearts of children as well! I was so young, and she spoke to my heart and soul like no one else.”
Then, at the end of her tribute, Britney Spears even admitted that she was kind of rambling. Still, she felt the need to give flowers to an artist that means so much to her. “I have no idea why I’m writing this, but I do believe people like her are here for a reason … Just her smile alone changed the world forever … She’s my girl crush this month,” she concluded.
Janet Jackson’s impact on Britney Spears is especially evident when looking back at some of her forays into R&B. Her Neptunes-produced “I’m a Slave 4 U” nods to a lot of the same whispery, sensual qualities that made Jackson such an alluring presence throughout her career.
Kelly Clarkson’s feud with a Brooklyn boutique toy shop has been the topic of much conversation. Now, there’s a funny twist that I feel like has to be coincidental, but might just be super petty.
Rolling Stone reports that the singer-turned-talk-show-host’s home decor line is now selling bird-themed items. This, of course, could be a reference to Clarkson trying to buy a pricey bird toy from the NYC store, Art of Play, where she claims she was treated poorly. It could also just be an ironic coincidence.
The items are purportedly part of the new Christmas and holiday arrivals of The Kelly Clarkson Collection at Wayfair.com. Among them are some bird ornaments, as well as a singing bird trinket. It should be noted that the items do not show on the main page for Clarkson’s holiday offerings. So it’s unclear if they are actually part of her decor collection or just Wayfair items that appear to be associated.
Kelly Clarkson’s feud with Art of Play has been a messy public back-and-forth
The whole “Birdgate” situation started on Oct. 10, 2026. Clarkson posted on X/Twitter that she went to Art of Play and inquired about an animatronic bird. Rather than friendliness, Clarkson claimed she was met with rudeness.
“Just drove all the way to Brooklyn to check out this store I thought looked really rad and had a few things in mind to buy and literally was looked at as if I couldn’t afford it and was told he could find something comparable for me,” the inaugural American Idol champion wrote.
“Wow, dude. You’re an idiot and just lost a huge sale,” Clarkson went on to write. She then. encouraged her followers to check out the store “if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman.” This is a reference to a scene in the classic 90s film wherein Roberts’ character is treated arrogantly by a fancy shop clerk.
Art of Play claims that the bird toy Kelly Clarkson wanted to purchase was not for sale, but she disputes this
In response, Art of Play took to Instagram the following day (Oct. 11) to share their side of the story. They alleged that Clarkson wanted to buy the “one-of-a-kind” bird item, named Molly, which is not available for purchase.
“Molly is permanently attached to the wall and isn’t for sale,” the business stated. “However, the negative experience Kelly described on Twitter would resonate with anyone who has ever felt judged in a shop.”
The two parties have continued to go back and forth. Clarkson shared images that claim to show a price tag on the item, after Art of Play employees denied its for-sale status. Per NBC News, the store has since revealed that they are willing to sell the bird toy for $15 million.
Photo by Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
One of the most impressive vocal performances of 1992 probably has to be Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”. But since that’s the obvious answer, we’ve picked out three others that were just as impressive.
“Emotions” by Mariah Carey
In March 1992, Mariah Carey recorded an MTV Unplugged album, mostly in response to critics who felt she couldn’t replicate her vocal range live. Rumors swirled that she was a studio musician, and her whistle notes specifically came under scrutiny. But with her MTV Unplugged performance, Carey proved that she really did have the range.
She opened the live session with “Emotions”, immediately putting her voice to work. The vocal runs right at the beginning warmed the audience up, but she soon hit her first whistle note. She made each one look effortless, of course, and jumped from low to high registers with ease. With “Emotions” as an opening song, Carey put the rumors to bed immediately.
“No Ordinary Love” by Sade
Sade released Love Deluxe in October 1992, and later, a concert film recorded in San Diego. Her live performance of “No Ordinary Love” from the concert film features her smooth, sultry vocal delivery backed by unusually intense guitar. The blend of Sade’s soulful voice with intermittent shredding makes this a uniquely impressive rendition of “No Ordinary Love”.
Sade is typically associated with smooth R&B, neo-soul standards, and romantic jazz influences. All of that is present on “No Ordinary Love” live in San Diego, but there’s something even more ethereal about her vocals that isn’t captured in a studio recording. Hearing Sade perform live is more of a spiritual experience than anything else.
“Oceans” by Pearl Jam
“Oceans” first appeared on Pearl Jam’s debut album Ten, but it also opened their MTV Unplugged session in March 1992. The live performance has Eddie Vedder traveling between low and unusually high registers, and features some expressive vocalizations near the end.
While “Oceans” isn’t one of Pearl Jam’s go-to signature songs now, it’s still a worthy track. The variance in Vedder’s vocals is impressive in itself, as grunge wasn’t known for having a ton of vocal diversity. Stylistically, there were a lot of standouts, but many vocalists typically stayed in the lower register. Here, Vedder shows that he’s not beholden to that, giving the song texture and emotion.
The state of the music industry is confusing from every angle. Making money feels impossible. Streams pay fractions of pennies, and tours don’t last forever unless you’re like The Weeknd, who has been on the road for years now. Artists are stuck trying to figure out brand deals and licensing since no one actually buys albums anymore. This is particularly rough for veterans in the industry like Nas. Frankly, he’s tired of it.
In a statement on Instagram, he mused over the current state of culture as a whole. Ultimately, the Queens MC had a sour taste in his mouth about how the industry discards its legends and innovators. It’s a ‘what have you done for me lately’ kind of industry. Even if they give the art and culture their everything, they don’t always get the care they deserve.
“For the past year I’ve been watching so much happen in the culture while working on music,” Nas wrote. “I think about how it started, I think about the Mississippi Delta to New Orleans to New York. I think about Robert Johnson at the crossroads, how he changed music, and how we can’t even find his grave.”
Nas Addresses The State of Music and Culture While Teasing New Music
“Sometimes I look at all artists, creators, and executives the same way. The music game forgets or doesn’t compensate the foundation. Our greats have been stolen from and ripped off of,” the Illmatic legend continued.
Consequently, Nas advocated for artists to stop desperately chasing trends in favor of a more communal experience within hip-hop. That way, when the industry leaves people out to dry, artists still have something to rely on.
“We can’t keep creating music for the sake of a “trend”. We have to remember the purpose and our contribution and how many things we created. Where’s the love for each other at?” Nas questioned. “We gotta take a stand as one. It’s time for a celebration of the music.”
Then, at the end of his manifesto, he stressed the importance of knowing yourself and teased that it’s time to address what that actually means. At the bottom, he added “BLAK MUSIC 2026”.
Clearly, this suggests another album could be on the way. What we know for certain is that it won’t include any Hit-Boy production. Back in August 2026, the producer shrugged that he’ll never work with Nas again for reasons that weren’t immediately clear.
“We did a lot of great work, but I don’t see us working again,” Hit-Boy told DJ Vlad and Elliott Wilson. “There’s a lot of reasons, you know what I mean? But it’s something I don’t really wanna dig too deep in ’cause it’s pretty deep. Respect to what we did get accomplished in three years.”
On October 15, 2026, The Smashing Pumpkins released a new single, “Black Stars”. It’s part of the official soundtrack for The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping. The film is set to release in theaters and on IMAX on November 20, 2026, with special preview screenings to occur on November 18 and 19.
This will be the sixth film in the Hunger Games franchise, which launched in 2012. The films are based on the book series by Suzanna Collins. The new film, Sunrise On The Reaping, is the second prequel in the series and takes place 24 years before the original film trilogy. It’s the sequel to the 2023 film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes.
On October 2, 2026, Noah Kahan released the lead single, “Draw You Out”, from The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping (The Album). For this track, Kahan reunited with producer Aaron Dessner, who co-produced Kahan’s 2026 album The Great Divide. Noah Kahan isn’t the only one to reunite with a producer for the film’s soundtrack. Except for this next reunion, fans have been waiting for over thirty years.
The Smashing Pumpkins Record With Butch Vig for the First Time in Over 30 Years
For their newest single, “Black Stars”, The Smashing Pumpkins have reunited with legendary producer Butch Vig. He produced the band’s 1991 debut album, Gish. That same year, he produced Nirvana’s Nevermind, which launched grunge into the mainstream with the release of “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.
Vig returned to produce The Smashing Pumpkins sophomore album, Siamese Dream, which launched the band into the mainstream in 1993. The album generated defining hits for the group, such as “Today”, “Disarm”, and “Cherub Rock”. For the band’s third album, the triple album Mellon Collie And The Infitinite Sadness, the band chose to experiment with their sound rather than work with Vig once again. Therefore, this is the band’s first Vig-produced release in over 33 years.
The Smashing Pumpkins released an accompanying music video for “Black Stars” on the morning of October 16, 2026. In this video, Billy Corgan is seen without a guitar, dancing and swaying to the music. This is different for the frontman, who isn’t necessarily known as a dancer. Typically, he’s with his guitar or singing directly into the lens during music videos. Corgan loosens up and sways in a way that’s similar to Morrissey in this video. This aligns with how the band has evolved and made a huge comeback in recent years. They’re currently on The Rats In A Cage Tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness.
With Butch Vig handling the production on this new Hunger Games single, fans speculate whether the legendary producer will produce the next full-length album with The Smashing Pumpkins.
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartRadio
Happy New Music Friday, friends! I am glad you made it through another week. You deserve some fresh tunes for all your trouble.
First off, I want to encourage you to check out our exclusive with Eva Elfie, featuring the premiere of her debut single along with a short interview conversation. If you dig dark, otherworldly electronic jams, this one is for you.
Next, I hope you’ll scroll through our weekly list and hear the new music from some really memorable and profound artists. Starting with some heavy metal legends.
“Splatter-Fu” by Gwar
The Scumdogs of the Universe are back, baby!
Gwar has announced a brand new project: GWAR and the Last Drive-In-Stein. It’s a split/collaborative album with horror master Joe Bob Briggs and his Shudder series The Last Drive-In. Side A of the album will be some new Gwar tunes, and Side B will feature John Brennan and the Bigfeet, the official Last Drive-In house band.
As part of the project, Brenne penned “Splatter-Fu” for the unholy leaders of the Bohabs, and the hard rockin’ tune is our first taste of the record. If you expected anything less than Gwar doing what they do best, well, I’m happy to disappoint you.
“KISS ME LIKE YOU MISS HER” by ADULT LEISURE
If you’re looking for some fresh new alt-rock in your life, look no further than Bristol, England’s Adult Leisure.
The band has announced that they signed with American label Big Loud Rock, a partnership they sealed with the new single “Kiss Me Like You Miss Her”. It’s a ditty that’s catchy as hell. There’s some early 90s shoegaze guitar tone and a dirty disco rhythm that just forces you to groove with it.
You’ll get addicted to this one.
“VAGABOND” by KING BUFFALO
I love the riff on this song so. f**king. much. It’s got this clear stoner metal energy, but there’s also a little post-grunge element to it that feels really good.
King Buffalo ARE those dudes. They jam so hard and leave nothing on the table. The new tune is called “Vagabond”. It’ll be featured on their new independent record,Doomsayer, which is out on Dec. 4.
“Trick Of The Night” by Reiyo The Giant
Reiyo The Giant is a beautiful anomaly who doesn’t fit into any box you try to build for her.
The genre-defying singer has announced her debut album, Trick Of The Night, heralded by a haunting, atmospheric title track. Her smooth, smoky voice glazes through a trip-hop-esque soundtrack. As it intensifies, her jazzy vocals take center stage with vulnerability and soul, leaving you haunted.
The ‘Temilotzin’ EP by TZOMPANTLI
Hailing from Southern California, Tzompantli is one of the most important bands in heavy music these days. The indigenous metal band writes and performs as a channeling of their ancestors, and their songs exude that spiritual maturity.
This week, the band steps outside their typical sound and brings forth an organic, acoustic offering. Dubbed the Temilotzin EP, these three naturalistic and tribal melodies find Tzompantli paying homage to their deep roots and rich heritage. Find the complete project wherever you stream music, but please consider supporting it through Bandcamp.
Grunge of the 90s swung wildly between straightforward songs and abstract surrealism. Meaning, there was a healthy mix of songs that said what they meant and songs that seemingly meant nothing. The latter are some of the most fun to dig through, honestly. Here are three grunge tracks that are difficult to explain no matter how many times we listen.
“Bugs” by Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam released their third album, Vitalogy, in 1994, which included the absurd and, quite frankly, ahead of its time, track “Bugs”. This song is unlike anything Pearl Jam had done before. It features Eddie Vedder playing a discordant accordion accompaniment to his monotone vocals and stream-of-consciousness lyrics about bugs.
It’s certainly Tom Waits-ian in its lyrical abstractness. But there’s also something purely contemporary about “Bugs” attributed to its purposeful ugliness. It sounds exactly like something a 24-year-old experimental alt-rocker from Brooklyn would record in their bedroom and post on Bandcamp. It’s a masterpiece of Gen Z absurdity made by Pearl Jam in 1994. Essentially, “Bugs” defies logic and bridges generations.
“Love Song” by Alice in Chains
In a similar vein to Pearl Jam’s deviation from grunge, Alice in Chains added the hidden track “Love Song” to their 1992 EP Sap. This was more than just a deviation from the norm, however. Alice in Chains took grunge and fully exploded it into an orgy of Captain Beefheart-like noise. The lyrics are completely nonsensical, including 80s actress Rae Dawn Chong’s name as a repeated line.
To further mix things up, the members of Alice in Chains all traded instruments while recording. Vocalist became drummer, bassist and guitarist switched, and drummer banged away on piano. Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell still split the vocals, but drummer Sean Kinney also took a turn on the megaphone. The result is a perfect storm of menacing chaos and inspired experimentation that makes absolutely no sense.
“Wood Goblins” by TAD
Seattle band TAD was an early grunge pioneer in the late 80s, when heavy influences still reigned. Their 1990 album Salt Lick included the track “Wood Goblins”, which spawned their first music video and subsequently their first MTV ban. Additionally, TAD was known for their short, nasty-sounding song titles like “Cyanide Bath” and “Glue Machine”, now a widespread naming convention for hardcore bands.
“Wood Goblins” is best experienced alongside its music video. Lyrically, there’s the possibility of an allusion to vices or addiction. But it’s not fully formed, so the abstract imagery takes center stage. For example, “Breathes hard and fast like some weird disease” is an amazingly absurd image that sticks in the mind. But beyond “Wood Goblins”, TAD is an essential early grunge band that deserves way more appreciation.
During a Super Bowl party earlier this year, San Francisco 49ers defensive end Keion White was shot in the ankle. Speculation surfaced in the aftermath that Lil Baby might’ve been connected due to an altercation earlier in the evening. However, after a new report, police didn’t connect him with any of the actions that took place that night.
According to KQED, authorities have arrested four people in connection with the shooting of Keion White. 35-year-old Curtis Green, 36-year-old Gregory Walker, 36-year-old Antoine Washington, and 38-year-old Marquis Davis were all arrested in Atlanta and different parts of California.
It’s currently unclear what roles Davis and Washington played in the incident. Green was released from custody because his charges were all misdemeanors, one of which was carrying a firearm. However, Walker was charged with assault with a semi-automatic weapon, a felony charge. He’s being held without bail. Police didn’t make any connections between Lil Baby and the shooting of Keion White.
According to Police Chief Derrick Lew, the investigation “expanded rapidly”, with search warrants spanning all over California and into Atlanta, Georgia. “It involved over 50 search warrants and assistance from over 250 law enforcement personnel,” he said in a press conference.
Lil Baby Not Involved in The Shooting of 49ers Defensive End Keion White
Walker’s attorney Jeff Wozniak stressed his client’s innocence and that such a shooting isn’t reflective of his character. “Mr. Walker is a family man, a longshoreman, a union member,” he said. “We’re gonna show that he’s innocent, get him back to his family.”
Despite this, authorities displayed a litany of guns and drugs seized during their investigation. According to the outlet, they found 15 pounds of drugs, thousands of dollars, and three firearms during the proceedings.
With Lil Baby no longer connected to the shooting of Keion White, he’s busy collaborating with YouTuber, philanthropist, and multi-millionaire MrBeast on Pharrell production. On a remix of his hit song “Dead Fresh”, the YouTuber actually stepped to the mic to brag about his money and his good work behind the scenes.
“Richest rapper on the scene, call me Mr. Lean,” MrBeast raps on the Lil Baby track. “30 million pounds of trash, we got that ocean clean/Take a minute, feel the breeze, it’s 20 million trees.”
It’s exactly as jarring as you might imagine. Check it out down below, if you dare:
Years after the passing of late Los Angeles rapper Drakeo The Ruler, his estate finally reached a resolution in court. After a lengthy wrongful death lawsuit against Live Nation, they finally settled matters out of court. Currently, the terms weren’t disclosed, but according to PEOPLE, the ruling is “conditional.” Additionally, if the preapproved terms are reached within 45 days, then the case will finally be dismissed.
This came after the Cold Devil rapper was fatally stabbed at the Once Upon a Time in L.A. music festival back in December 2021. They argued it was malpractice that her son was jumped so viciously at what seemed like a secure event. All of this was done on behalf of Drakeo The Ruler’s 5-year-old son Caiden Caldwell.
“[Caiden] lost his father and has endured great pain, anguish, and loss of emotional and financial support due to this completely preventable, yet recklessly permitted act of violence,” the suit read in another report.
The lawsuit also claimed that certain parties involved looked at the murder as a form of “street justice.” He served three years in prison and was eventually acquitted in charges related to the murder of a Blood gang member. With only one security guard at his hip and barebones security for the venue, he was jumped by “scores of people, many dressed in all red and wearing ski masks.”
Drakeo The Ruler Lawsuit Finally Settled Out of Court With Live Nation
Journalist Jeff Weiss tragically recalled the night in 2022, calling the event a full-blown “assassination.” His performance was slated to be his second in LA since his release. After an initial “decoy” fight, security and police never showed up. Then, Drakeo The Ruler and seven others were left to defend themselves against 113 people donning all red.
“Directly in front of me, I watch one of the attackers leap up on a ledge, rip off his mask, beat his chest, and screech with apparent glee. As if on cue, the attackers all remove their red hoodies and scatter. Seconds later, security and the police finally arrive, much too late. So do a team of medics, who rush up to a prostrate body writhing on the asphalt. It is Drakeo: mask off, blood pouring all over his face and neck. It looks like his throat has been slit. In the distance, I hear the wail of sirens,” Weiss wrote.
Years later, YG was detained by police in connection with the murder of Drakeo The Ruler. However, he was eventually released shortly afterward.
The journey of life can bring us many new beginnings, and Eva Elfie stands at the precipice of one right now. Today, the former adult actress is launching a brand new career in electronic music. We here at VICE/Noisey are privileged to premiere her debut single, “Fairyland”.
Carefully crafted with hypnotic beats and precise rhythms reminiscent of retro House music, “Fairyland” is a forceful first showing from Elfie. It builds from an ethereal intro, passes through a dark vortex, and lands squarely in the center of an enchanted rave.
But make no mistake, this is only a prologue. You can feel it in your bones. When the voyage ends, you crave more. Don’t worry. Elfie knows, and she has plans to satiate that desire.
Taking some time out to chat with us in honor of her new musical adventure, Elfie shared a little about her inspirations, her creativity, and what fans can expect in the near future. Hear her debut single, “Fairyland” above, and scroll on to read our exclusive interview.
Eva Elfie x Vice/Noisey exclusive interview
Noisey: Hello Eva! Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. It’s really exciting to be premiering your debut single! How are you feeling now that the big day is actually here?!
Eva: “Exciting and stressful! There is a lot to do, and you know, the first time is always stressful… I’m a perfectionist, and my actual release date was moved several times. But there’s no limit to perfection, so I’ve decided to finally let it out.“
Tell me a little about “Fairyland” and what inspired you to create this track?
“It’s a glimpse into my universe and the dark fairy tale I wanted to create. Treat it as the first chapter of a journey I’m taking you on. I didn’t want to overwhelm the listener, so I kept it simple and minimal, just enough to give you a taste of my world.“
Photo by Nina Hawkins
How long have you been making music?
“Actually, already for two years. I’d been making music, working on my DJ sets, and creating my own world.“
Are there any specific artists who you would say have had significant influence on your sound?
“Old KAS:ST releases heavily influenced my path to my first release. I find a lot of influence in French electronic music, which helped me to shape my own sound and world.“
Eva Elfie has more music on the horizon
Photo by Nina Hawkins
Did your adult content/film industry career, in any way, prepare you for this new musical journey?
“My past/adult career gave me the freedom for my hobby, which turned into me pursuing my musical career. You know, some people have alter-ego, I have an alter-career.“
Finally, I know that fans will be desperate for more after they hear “Fairyland”. Can you tease anything that might be on the horizon for you, like other new music or shows…?
“Be ready for my next release, ‘Body’, which will guide you more deeply into my world!“
[All photos by Nina Hawkins / courtesy of Gold Atlas PR]
Josh Brolin is making a documentary about the punk band he started as a teenager with his “best friend” Jason Sears. While he admitted that the band name, Cito Vice Squad, was “super dumb,” Brolin expressed his love for the L.A. punk scene growing up.
Speaking with NME in October 2026, Brolin reminisced about his teenage punk band and the L.A. scene. He used to sneak out his bedroom window at night to drive to Godzilla’s, the L.A. equivalent to New York’s CBGB.
“We’d watch amazing bands like Beer Guts, Circle Jerks, and Black Flag,” he said. Dead Kennedys and Wasted Youth frequently played there as well. Godzilla’s was unique in that it was a venue for young punks, run by young punks; for example, the club’s manager was only 20 years old. L.A.’s 80s punk scene suffered from lack of venues, in contrast to New York City. Godzilla’s became one of the last strongholds for young punks in Los Angeles.
For Brolin’s punk band, Cito Vice Squad, the inspiration actually came from across the pond. “We were really motivated by Sex Pistols,” he said. “That was probably the band that initiated it all.”
As for the film, Brolin didn’t have many specific details, other than there’s going to be a film. “We’re doing a documentary on those guys [in Cito Vice Squad and Rich Kids on LSD] right now,” he said. “And talking to [filmmaker] Amy Berg about the L.A. punk scene.”
Josh Brolin Admits That Most of His Friends Who Stayed in the L.A. Punk Scene Are Dead Now
Josh Brolin played drums in the band, and they were fairly well known in the local scene. But he eventually left the band to focus on acting. However, a lot of his friends stayed in the punk scene, for better or worse. The better outcome had fellow Cito Vice Squad members Jason Sears and Richard “Bomer” Manzullo forming Rich Kids on LSD. The worse outcome, he said in 2008, was that “Eighty percent of the guys I grew up with are dead.” By then, that included Sears.
“I was drums, but I wasn’t a good drummer,” Brolin continued. “And then Bomer came in. He was an amazing, amazing musician. All self-taught, and he could play the bass, the guitar, the drums, and the piano. He composed later. It was amazing.”
He added, “The idea of being in a band is always great. You see a lot of actors that try to have that side gig. And I get it. It’s not great for everybody, but I get it.”
In 2008, Brolin said he was grateful he got out of the scene when he did. The issue, he said, was drugs, and he very easily could have met the same fate as many of his friends. “I got out of it early on,” he said at the time. “I was very lucky.”
Two notable Atlanta rappers were arrested in September in connection with a shooting that occurred on April 25, 2026. Atlanta PD released a statement on September 15, 2026, detailing the arrests. It states that Zahair Myles, known by his stage name Warhol.SS, “self-surrendered and was booked into the Fulton County Jail. Mr. Myles is charged with Felony Murder, Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony, Armed Robbery, and Aggravated Assault.”
Two weeks prior, on September 1, police arrested Jacquawn Andrews, known by the stage name Nino Paid, while attempting to re-enter the United States after performing in Toronto. The statement reads, “On September 1, 2026, Mr. Jacquawn Andrews was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol while attempting to re-enter the United States from Canada. Mr. Andrews is currently being held in the Wayne County Jail in Michigan, pending extradition to Georgia. Mr. Andrews is being charged with Felony Murder, Armed Robbery, and Aggravated Assault.”
Police arrested the two in connection with a previous incident in April 2026. The statement detailed this incident. “Preliminary information: On April 25, 2026, at approximately 4:29 a.m., Atlanta Police officers responded to a report of a person shot at 633 Boulevard NE. Upon arrival, officers located a 29-year-old male victim who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition. Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, investigators with the Homicide Unit responded to the scene to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Investigators were later notified that the victim succumbed to his injuries while at the hospital.”
Background On The Rappers Arrested
Jacquawn Andrews, known as Nino Paid, has released three albums since he released his first single in August 2023. The Maryland rapper released his debut album, Can’t Go Bacc, on April 4, 2024. He followed up with a sophomore release, Love Me As I Am, released on February 4, 2025. On August 4, 2026, Andrews released his third studio album, Somewhere Over The Rainbow. Following this, he embarked on a tour, starting in Minneapolis on August 26, and was expected to wrap up in Phoenix on September 19. Instead, Nino Paid was arrested while re-entering the country on September 1.
Zahair Myles, known as Warhol.SS, is a rapper born in Chicago before moving to Minneapolis at 10 years old. At 16, Myles relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where he launched his rap career. He’s released multiple EP’s and full-length albums since his debut in 2017. He’s collaborated with artists such as Ski Mask The Slump Dog, who was arrested on September 21 for a DUI. Myles fifth album, STUDIO 54, was released on January 30, 2026.
Music journalism is going to the wall, and places for sensible, well-informed, nuanced takes on the latest releases are dwindling. So we thought we might as well put the final nail in the coffin
Fontaines D.C. Dopamine Chamber XL After exhaustively touring the last Fontaines D.C. record, frontman Grian Chatten spent the springtime Europemaxxing. For most of us, this means you wake up without an alarm; meet friends for coffee; have lunch with the same friends; start day drinking; and do nothing else. Yet in his case, these travels on the continent resulted in lyrics for Dopamine Chamber, one of the most evocative, astute records of our new present. I mean, honestly, please take a break, mate—you’re making the rest of us look lazy and ignorant.
Across 11 tracks, we’re treated to a selection of audio selfies from his trip through the “world of old European beauty and terrible opulence”: a Viennese homage to Eyes Wide Shut—the paintings of Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, Arthur Schnitzler’s Dream Story, Freud’s old home, and its prophetic vision of the perverted elite (now, don’t mind me, but I’ve deleted this next joke because I don’t want to be found dead in mysterious circumstances); Venice: transient, commodified, sinking—the only way to better reflect the city than through this album would be to place a naked woman in a glass tank filled with tourists’ urine; and Palermo, which I have absolutely nothing to say about, funny or otherwise, as, uncoincidentally, it’s the one destination which, to Grian, “felt like a place where people actually lived.” One can only imagine what that would be like.
Jaded, hungover, and—ironically—in dire need of a holiday (I know the feeling), this is the morning after 2024’s Romance, which captured these hungry, cultured young men as they left behind their home city of Dublin in pursuit of, err, romance. Fontaines D.C. are looking for an escape which might not even exist, but must be chased nonetheless, because what else is there? This will be in my headphones throughout the fall as I sit out on the café terrace with a black coffee, a ham baguette, and a pack of Marlboro Reds, waiting for the riot to begin.
10/10 ANTHONY BOREDAGAIN
The Avalanches No Bad Memories Modular This is tech people’s gospel music, and The Avalanches are the high priests of sampling. When I caught them live, there was a beardy guy in the front row (who looked like he definitely prayed in C++) doing the “we’re not worthy” gesture from Wayne’s World throughout the whole show. There’s a disposable euphoria to this new 31-track record, with nostalgia revealed as a religious experience, the humble floppy disk transformed into a kind of eternal reliquary. “Party on,” I whisper to myself as I enter the confession booth to confess all the ways I’ve sinned on this miracle device without ever leaving the comfort of my own home. “Excellent.” 9/10 STEVE JOBSEEKER
@ Autosmile 4AD In the age of search engine optimization, there is undoubtedly nothing cooler than an indecipherable band name. This Philadelphia duo, who are impossible to find on Google, make cryptic folk music that’s too poignant for you, a foolish appreciator of letters and words, to actually listen to. If you’re brave enough to try to hear these pristine songs, you’ll have to hunt for a series of mysterious symbols scribbled in water-damaged notebooks hidden in abandoned suburban basements (or, you know, just go straight to Spotify instead). This one is perfect for fans of hieroglyphics, Unicode character sets, and penis-shaped ASCII art.
7/10 (.)(.)
World Peace DMT Stick Around for Tea WPDMT There’s no amount of drugs in the world that can make me understand how the “South London Music Scene” has become a global brand. It would be the perfect cosmic joke if Worldpeace DMT ended up as Brixton’s own version of The Beatles. And listening to this skewed London duo’s spirited pop is like being sucked into a timeless realm, where you can imagine tourists visiting the Windmill as if it were Abbey Road or the Cavern Club, throwing tennis balls for an animatronic Roof Dog and searching the floor for fossilized mystery pills lost at the height of the roaring 2020s. So if any tech billionaire psychedelic enthusiasts are reading this, I’ve got a great business idea.
8/10 PAUL MCCARTNEY’S BIRTH TRAUMA
The Afters New Day New Life Fair Trade Services My mate told everyone I was “sound,” so I turned up to The Afters, which unexpectedly turned out to be a Christian rock band, and they really weren’t feeling it when I started racking up lines on their copy of the Bible, but then they started chatting about how “God Is with Us”—which I really felt in that moment, at least after a couple of bags. These guys might think that Jesus coming back from the dead after three days was impressive, well, just wait until you see me show up for work on Monday after this 72-hour session.
1/10 JUDAS ISCHEMIA
Two Shell Infinite Now Young Do you even know what music is if you didn’t grow up with the Now compilations? Either you jolted your parents out of their boomer complacency by administering a dose of 90s chart-hit shock therapy, or you have no aesthetic sensibility whatsoever. I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules; I leave that to Two Shell, who have just released their own rogue Now That’s What I Call… compilation. I locked my parents in a Zafira people carrier and kicked their chairs nonstop while blasting this lurid and delinquent record, for old time’s sake. By the time it was finished, they were begging me for the sweet relief of “Tequila” by Terrorvision.
7/10 GERI HALITOSIS
They Are Gutting a Body of Water KOOL FAITH / LOOSIES II ATO Records and Julia’s War If you’re between 20 and 30 and your main circle doesn’t include RKX Nephew, Hotline TNT, feeble little horse, Tony Bontana, Cooper B Handy, and DJ Manny, then what’s your excuse? It can’t be that you’ve spent all your time in your bedroom listening to shoegaze, weeping over the transcendent sadness of tape delay. As even with bleeding ears and a face full of tears, Douglas Dulgarian and his band have managed to put together a mixtape filled with their many, many talented friends. I don’t care how many homemade guitar pedals you have, at the end of the day, your network really is your net worth.
7/10 MARY BLOCKCHAIN
Max Richter While the Flood Rages Decca Records When it comes to video montages documenting our seemingly unfathomable inhumanity toward one another, there is now, thankfully, an official ban on the use of “This Bitter Earth / On the Nature of Daylight”. Enough is enough; we may never run out of enthusiasm for killing and torturing, but we’re tired of this song. Have no fear though, as Max Richter is back with fresh stock music for scoring the crimes of the future. If you’re not already feeling maudlin enough about the future of our species, maybe we should fire up AI Dinah Washington to lay down some fresh vocal takes?
6/10 RICHTER SCALE MIDNESS
Djrum DJ-Kicks: Djrum !K7 Records This pleasingly ballsy new addition to the long-running mix series, which finds the intense British electronic artist making good on his threat to keep things a “bit bumpy,” performing one of his famously unpredictable all-vinyl sets, and throwing in plenty of “ups and downs,” while using three decks, which is really one more than you actually need, as, like most of us, he only has two hands, that is unless, of course, you’re going to really “fuck with expectations” and pull out your… Oh God, no Djrum, not like that, please put it away, this is a family-friendly nightclub.
8/10 INSPECTAH DICK
Rick Wakeman and The English Rock Ensemble Return to the Red Planet Madfish Music If you look at photographs captured by NASA’s Viking 1 orbiter in 1976, you can clearly see the face of one of our gigantic humanoid ancestors who once inhabited Mars and the thing that’s immediately apparent is that he’s screaming in eternal agony, presumably because he’s having to endure the vast emptiness of prog titan Rick Wakeman’s sci-fi record inspired by the discoveries on the Red Planet. I never thought I’d say this, but Elon Musk really needs to hurry up and get out into deep space as soon as possible to put a stop to this sort of thing.
In 2019, all photos on Myspace were lost in a botched server migration. This is devastating news for millennials, but it may have saved us from major embarrassment. They always said to be careful with what you put on the internet because it’ll be there forever. Of course, they never expected Justin Timberlake’s purchase of a popular website would result in thousands of memories lost in server migration. Our only way to transport back to Myspace is through the music of the era. That is, until they bring Myspace back, which has been rumored for a while now. These three metalcore bands will make you wish you could log back into the old Myspace one more time.
Underoath
The Underoath albums that may be the most endearing to millennials are the band’s fourth album from 2004, They’re Only Chasing Safety, and their follow-up in 2006, Define The Great Line. With these, the group established a successful dynamic between Spencer Chamberlain’s screams in the frontman role and drummer Aaron Gillespie’s clean vocals from behind the kit. Their high-energy performances matched the energy of these albums in this era. This pushed Underoath to the peak of the Myspace-era metalcore bands, and their music has aged well over the last 20 years.
The Devil Wears Prada
Lost in the thousands of Myspace photos are many of me wearing colorful band tees. The Devil Wears Prada had the best scene kid T-shirts that were perfect for taking Myspace photos. They were so huge during the Myspace era because they were darker than most other bands. Their sophomore album, Plagues, generated the track “HTML Rulez D00d”, a popular Myspace profile song in 2007. For a metalcore band on the mainstream chart, the album charted fairly well, peaking at No. 57 on the Billboard 200. It led the way for their 2009 follow-up, With Roots Above And Branches Below, to peak at No. 11 on the Billboard 200.
As I Lay Dying
This was one of the most successful metalcore bands on a commercial level. As I Lay Dying dominated the charts in 2007 with their fourth album, An Ocean Between Us. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums Chart. With this, the band helped solidify metalcore’s place on the mainstream charts. The band continued to dominate with releases in the late 2000s and into the 2010s. In 2014, the band took a three-year hiatus, returning in 2017. They’ve been together since, with Shaped By Fire released in 2019 and Through Storms Ahead in 2024.
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