Culture

Friday Notes for June 28th, 2024

The Uristocrat Headlines for Friday, June 28th, 2024

Uristocrat

Jun 28, 2024 — 6 min read

This is an edition of Uristocrat Notes, a newsletter that explores the most significant cultural stories of the day.

Biden and Trump’s Stances on What They’ve Done for Black People

As America watched the first presidential debate Thursday night, some observers said President Joe Biden’s performance failed the vibe check and former president Donald Trump kept lying. But what really raised eyebrows was Trump’s response when asked about the candidates’ appeal to Black voters.

“The fact is that his big kill on the Black people is the millions of people that he’s allowed to come in through the border,” the former president said. “They’re taking Black jobs now and it could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people. They’re taking Black jobs, and they’re taking Hispanic jobs, and you haven’t seen it yet, but you’re gonna see something that’s going to be the worst in our history.”

Release Friday

Burna Boy releases new single "Higher"

Megan Thee Stallion releases New Album 'MEGAN'

Megan Thee Stallion is back with her first full-length effort in two years, MEGAN. The album features guest appearances from Kyle Richh on "B.A.S.," Japanese hip-hop artist Yuki Chiba on "Mamushi," GloRilla on "Accent," Victoria Monét on "Spin" and Bun B and the late Pimp C, better known as the duo UGK, on "Paper Together."

Channel Tres releases "Head Rush"

“Never put a artist in a box/They only thought I could do house,” Channel Tres sings on the title track of his debut album, Head Rush. Since debuting in 2018 with the gliding “Controller,” the LA-based artist has become the purveyor of what he calls “Compton house,” a distinctly West Coast blend of house music, hip-hop, and funk.

Channel’s ever-growing Rolodex comes through on Head Rush, with Thundercat, Teezo Touchdown, Ty Dolla $ign, and more appearing throughout the album. It’s familiar in that it still pulses with Channel’s slick dance grooves, but it’s also where he expands upon his songwriting focus and sonic experiments. “Joyful Noise” is a modern take on gospel house, while “Type” brings celestial, speaker-busting rap. Even his signature suave baritone becomes another instrument to play with, getting rugged and fervent on the industrial-coated “Black & Mild.”

Lucky Daye releases "Algorithm"

Some two years after the sublime Candydrip, Lucky Daye ensures that his third studio album is required listening for R&B fans and lovers everywhere. Despite the seeming coldness of its title, Algorithm allures with its series of sensual come-ons and pillow-talk confessions. The carnal delights depicted on “Top” feel downright palpable thanks to the singer’s earnest and eager delivery, a move that proves equally efficient on relatively more abstract cuts like the title track.

Amaarae releases "roses are red, tears are blue — A Fountain Baby Extended Play"

Headie One releases "The Last One"

The follow-up to Headie One’s chart-topping 2020 debut, EDNA, finds the Tottenham MC in a state of gratitude. The Last One draws up hard-hitting home truths, clear-eyed reflections, and flashy verses on success, failure, and the thin lines that separate them. “I could approach it any way I want, to be honest—it all depends on my frame of mind,” he tells Apple Music’s Dotty about surveying the pains of his past. “Naturally, as I’m growing up and maturing, I do change my view on things, so I had to see what I was doing from the outside, analyze it properly, and see what I needed to progress and take steps forward.” To that effect, Headie frequently flashes to key crossroads. Opener “I Could Rap,” credits inspiration from fellow inmates (while serving a sentence in Scotland at HMP & YOI Polmont) for his unlikely conversion from prison ID number A6436CK to UK drill kingpin. “I wouldn’t say that I use it as fuel,” Headie says. “But I don’t think the world’s against me now either, so it’s just important that I keep doing what I’m doing.”

Hiatus Kaiyote release "Love Heart Cheat Code"

Hiatus Kaiyote’s fourth album finds the Melbourne quartet in a playful mood. “BMO Is Beautiful” is a 41-second appreciation of the Adventure Time character BMO, featuring its voice actor Niki Yang on vocals. “Longcat” is a woozy tribute to “the longest cat in the world.”

It’s fitting, then, that the band’s trademark jazz/R&B/future soul excursions are unshackled from traditional song structure in favor of a looser, more improvised form that emerged from late-night jam sessions, steering the album from cacophonous freak-outs like closer “White Rabbit” to the celestial opener “Dreamboat” and elastic jazz of “Make Friends.” Vocalist Nai Palm draws her lyrical inspiration from a diverse well. The Brazilian and sambalike rhythms of “Telescope” lay the foundation for a journey into space, the song inspired by photographs from the Hubble telescope on each band member’s birthday.

Sports

Bronny James Drafted by Los Angeles Lakers: Historic Moment in NBA

The Los Angeles Lakers are making NBA history by drafting Bronny James, creating a unique father-son duo with Lebron James on the court.

Man Utd continues staff shake-up with Erik ten Haag at Helm, Rene Hake set to join

Go Ahead Eagles manager Rene Hake is set to join the Manchester United coaching staff as part of an overhaul of their backroom staff.

Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson on pace for a historic season

Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson walked off the court once again leaving no room for doubt. In a game June 21 against the Connecticut Sun, one of the best teams and top defenses in the WNBA, Wilson showed, as she has in each game this early WNBA season, why she’s the league’s most dominant force.