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The National’s Bryan Devendorf Surprise Releases Debut Solo Album

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Bryan Devendorf, the drummer of the National, has surprise released his debut solo album, Royal Green. He co-produced it in Brooklyn along with Nate Martinez, with contributions from bandmates/collaborators Aaron Dessner and multinstrumentalist Josh Kaufman. You can stream the album below, and check out the video for ‘Breaking the River’, directed by Owen Cummings.

Containing eight tracks, the album consists of both originals as well as a few notable covers, including of Bob Dylan/George Harrison’s ‘If Not For You’, the Beatles’ ‘Baby You’re A Rich Man’, and Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Dreams’. It also features his own take on the National’s ‘Halo Chagrin’, a lost track which has never been properly released.

Along with the new LP, Royal Green are selling merch including beach towels, wristbands, and trucker hats. The album will be available to purchase on vinyl in December.

Black Panther Actor Chadwick Boseman Dies at 43

Chadwick Boseman, the actor best known for portraying King T’Challa in Marvel’s Black Panther, has died at the age of 43 following a four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman died at his home in Los Angeles with his wife and family by his side, his publicist Nicki Fioravante revealed on Friday.

“A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” his family said in a statement posted on social media. “From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more—all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther.”

In addition to his role as Black Panther, Boseman also played baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson in 42, James Brown in the biopic Get On Up, and Thurgood Marshall in Marshall, as well as recently starring in Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods. His was final on-screen role was in August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which is currently in post-production.

When Black Panther won best cast in a film at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January of last year, Boseman delivered a powerful speech in which he invoked the title of playwright Lorraine Hansberry’s autobiography, To Be Young, Gifted and Black. “We know what it’s like to be told there’s not a screen for you to be featured on, a stage for you to be featured on,” he said. “We know what it’s like to be the tail and not the head. We know what it’s like to be beneath and not above. That is what we went to work with every day because we knew — not that we would be around during award season or that it would make a billion dollars, but we knew we had something special that we wanted to give the world. That we could be full human beings in the roles that we were playing, that we could create a world that exemplified a world that we wanted to see.”

“We knew that we had something that we wanted to give,” he continued. “And to come to work with every day and to solve problems with this group of people every day, with this director, that is something that I wish all actors would get the opportunity to experience. If you get to experience that, you will be a fulfilled artist.”

Tributes have begun pouring in for the star, including from co-stars Mark Ruffalo, Sterling K. Brown, Chris Pratt, Chris Evans, Don Cheadle, and Brie Larson, as well as Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Kamala Harris, Jordan Peele, Barry Jenkins, and more. You can read a selection of them below.

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It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman.⁣ ⁣ Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last 4 years as it progressed to stage IV. ⁣ ⁣ A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much. From Marshall to Da 5 Bloods, August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and several more, all were filmed during and between countless surgeries and chemotherapy. ⁣ ⁣ It was the honor of his career to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther. ⁣ ⁣ He died in his home, with his wife and family by his side. ⁣ ⁣ The family thanks you for your love and prayers, and asks that you continue to respect their privacy during this difficult time. ⁣ ⁣ Photo Credit: @samjonespictures

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“It was meant to be for Chadwick and me to be connected, for us to be family. But what many don’t know is our story began long before his historic turn as Black Panther. During the premiere party for Black Panther, Chadwick reminded me of something. He whispered that when I received my honorary degree from Howard University, his alma mater, he was the student assigned to escort me that day. And here we were, years later as friends and colleagues, enjoying the most glorious night ever! We’d spent weeks prepping, working, sitting next to each other every morning in makeup chairs, preparing for the day together as mother and son. I am honored that we enjoyed that full circle experience. This young man’s dedication was awe-inspiring, his smile contagious, his talent unreal. So I pay tribute to a beautiful spirit, a consummate artist, a soulful brother…”thou aren’t not dead but flown afar…”. All you possessed, Chadwick, you freely gave. Rest now, sweet prince.” #WakandaForever

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Sound Selection 109: Christina Munsey, Neil Frances, Kinships

Kinships Fall

Firstly on our Sound Selection, we have Fall by Kinships, a relatively new duo in the world of music having released their first song Splitting Hairs earlier this year. Fall follows up on their debut with a mellifluous production which incorporates soft ear-pleasing female and male vocals within a climbing-like progression that ends softly, leaving us in hope for more great music.

Neil Frances Tuesday

Neil Frances, a well-regarded duo comprised of Jordan Feller and Marc Gilfry, have unveiled their freshest song Tuesday. It’s a throwback-feel song, bringing a groovy mood and revealing the beauty of 90s French house that we have come to love over the years — without compromising on quality.

Talking about the song, Marc said: “Tuesday could be any day. Call us escapists, but the song was written based on a longing for simplicity. On some level, it’s too simple a desire given the current state of the world. But maybe we should all be allowed a moment or two of escape in order to come back stronger. So it’s bittersweet that we release this song at this time. Take it as a welcome break, but don’t get too sucked in, remember that there is work to be done.”

Christina Munsey habits

After the release of her 2020 debut EP for me, or for you, it’s hard to know what to expect from Christina Munsey — the gifted eighteen-year-old singer-songwriter. In her latest piece, habits Munsey brings out a mystical-like vibe with dreamy vocals leading on from the great start she had with her first EP. Having presented habits, we are eager to see what is next for Munsey.

Watch Run the Jewels’ New Video for ‘Out of Sight’ Featuring 2 Chainz and ‘Get Duked!’ Cast

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Run the Jewels have shared a new video for their 2 Chainz-featuring RTJ4 track, ‘Out of Sight’. Directed by Ninian Doff, the clip was filmed over the course of three weeks in four cities on two different continents. It features the cast of the director’s new British comedy movie Get Duked! as they attempt to steal the sculpted hands featured on the album’s cover. Check it out below.

The duo’s most recent studio album, RTJ4, was released back in June. It features guest spots from Rage Against the Machine’s Zack de La Rocha, Pharrell, 2 Chainz, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, and Mavis Staples. More recently, Run the Jewels and Travis Barker teamed up for a collaborative single called ‘Forever’.

Watch FKA twigs’ Hiro Murai-Directed Video for ‘Sad Day’

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FKA twigs has unveiled a new video for her song ‘Sad Day’, from her 2019 album MAGDALENE. Produced by Doomsday and directed by Hiro Murai, known for his collaborations with Donald Glover on Atlanta and Guava Island, it marks the filmmaker’s first music video since Childish Gambino’s ‘This is America’.The six-minute visual sees twigs engaging in an epic sword battle with Teake, a dancer she cast through social media. Check it out below.

According to a press release, the alternative R&B artist has been training as a sword-fighter for three years under the guidance of Master Wu of the Shaolin Wushu Centre. “Everything I’ve previously done with my body, all the training and dancing, has led to this point,” twigs said.

twigs recently teamed up with 645AR for the joint single ‘Sum Bout U’, as well as with Ty Dolla $ign on ‘Ego Death’.

Black Thought Teams Up with Pusha-T, Killer Mike, and Swizz Beatz for New Song

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The Roots’ Black Thought has shared a new, star-studded track featuring Pusha-T, Killer Mike, Swizz Beatz, and producer Sean Cane of the duo Sean C & LV. Titled ‘Good Morning’ and originally teased in a tweet posted earlier this week, it’s part of the rapper’s recently announced album, Streams of Thought, Vol. 3: Cane & Able. Take a listen below.

Speaking of the new song, Black Thought told Variety that it “speaks to an awakening”. He continued: “It’s a stellar lineup of features on one record – the level of dimension and different energy you get in one densely packed moment is unprecedented for the Roots and Black Thought up to this point. The energy of the production, whatever iconic thing it is that Swizz (Beatz) does elevating the chorus, juxtaposed with what Pusha T and Killer Mike bring to the equation… I felt as if it was a no-brainer.”

“On any given day, the space that I occupy in the world is somewhere between a Killer Mike and a Pusha T, between an activist and a street hero, a man of the people and a man of the streets — that’s my origin story,” he added. “I feel like both of their energies represent my own creative bipolarity.”

Black Thought’s upcoming LP is the latest in his Streams of Thought series; the first instalment came out in 2018. In addition to the new single and the previously released ‘Thought Vs. Everbody’, it features appearances from Portugal. The Man, ScHoolboy Q, and more.

A$AP Ferg Collaborates with Lil Wayne and Jay Gwuapo for New Song ‘No Ceilings’

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A$AP Ferg has shared a new song featuring Lil Waye and Jay Gwuapo. It’s called  ‘No Ceilings’ and it was produced by AXL Beats. It comes with an accompanying music video directed by Eif Rivera, which you can watch below.

The song’s title seems to be a reference to Wayne’s 2009 mixtape of the same name: “Like Wayne I got no ceilings!” Ferg raps just before Wayne jumps in for his verse.

A$AP Ferg recently teamed up with Nicki Minaj and MadeinTYO for the single ‘Move Ya Hips’. His last project was 2019’s Floor Seats EP.

BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez Unleash Video for New Song ‘Ice Cream’

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BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez have joined forces for a new collaborative track called ‘Ice Cream’. Co-written by Ariana Grande and Victoria Monét, it marks the second single from the K-pop group’s debut full-length album. Check it out below, alongside a colourful accompanying music video.

Preceded by a series of EPs and a feature on Lady Gaga’s Chromatica, BLACKPINK’s debut LP, titled The Album, comes out October 2 via YG Entertainment/Interscope. It includes the previously released single ‘How You Like That’, which was released back in June.

Selena Gomez put out her most recent album, Rare, in January of this year. A few weeks later, she unveiled a new single called ‘Feel Me’.

The Smashing Pumpkins Share Two New Songs ‘Cyr’ and ‘The Colour of Love’

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The Smashing Pumpkins have released two new songs, ‘Cyr’ and ‘The Colour of Love’, out now via Sumerian. Check them out below, along with a visual for ‘Cyr’ directed by Linda Strawberry.

Along with the new singles, The Smashing Pumpkins have also confirmed that a new album is on the way, featuring the current line-up of  Billy Corgan, James Iha, Jimmy Chamberlin, and longtime guitarist Jeff Schroeder.

Marking the band’s first new music in two years, both songs were recorded in Chicago and produced by Corgan himself. “‘Cyr’ is dystopic folly,” Corgan said in a statement. “One soul against the world sort of stuff, set against a backdrop of shifting loyalties and sped up time. To me it stands as both hopeful and dismissive of what is and isn’t possible with faith.”

Speaking about the song’s video, Linda Strawberry commented: “This is a goth fever dream of pent up emotion—an artistic visual release attempting to create a momentary escape from the emotional black cloud hanging over all of us this year. A dark seduction filmed in quarantine at a social distance.”

The Smashing Pumpkins’ last album was 2018’s Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1, while Corgan released his most recent solo album, Cotillions, last year.

The Weeknd and Calvin Harris Join Forces for New Song ‘Over Now’

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The Weeknd and Calvin Harris have joined forces for a new song called ‘Over Now’. It comes with an accompanying CGI-animated video directed by Emil Nava. Check it out below.

Harris released his most recent studio album, Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1, in 2017. He followed it up with a series of EPs, including a collaborative project with Normani in 2018. Earlier this year, he put out three EPs under the moniker Love Regenerator.

The Weeknd recently remixed Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence track ‘Money Power Glory’ and performed a virtual TikTok concert featuring Doja Cat. His last full-length LP was After Hours, released back in March.