Culture

Mandalorian and Grogu Opens to $33M Friday in Star Wars Franchise-Low Debut

The Mandalorian and Grogu earned $33 million across 4,300 North American theaters on Friday, the lowest opening day in Star Wars' modern theatrical era. Disney projects a four-day Memorial Day total of $92 million to $96 million.

Culture

Cristian Mungiu's 'Fjord' Wins Palme d'Or at 2026 Cannes Film Festival

Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won the Palme d'Or at Cannes 2026 for Fjord, a drama about a Romanian Evangelical family caught in Norway's child-welfare system. Distributor Neon now has seven consecutive Palme winners.

Intelligence Brief

The Intelligence Brief: Memorial Day Inflection - $900B at Anthropic, Wemby's 41/24, and the Sneaker of the Year - May 17–23, 2026

Every Memorial Day pretends to be an inflection point — Anthropic's $900B raise, Wemby's 41/24 conference finals debut, Aston Villa's first European trophy since 1982, and the end of network late-night. This is the week.

Culture

Bleachers Releases Fifth Album 'Everyone for Ten Minutes' With 11 Tracks

Jack Antonoff's Bleachers released its fifth studio album 'everyone for ten minutes' on May 22 — 11 tracks, 39 minutes, and a thesis Antonoff sums up bluntly: "This version of modernity is trash."

Culture

JPEGMAFIA Releases 25-Track 'Experimental Rap' as Sixth Studio Album

JPEGMAFIA released his sixth studio album 'Experimental Rap' on May 21 via AWAL — 25 tracks, self-produced, no press copies. A North American tour follows in September.

Sneakers

Nike Launches Soccer-Inspired Sportswear Collections "Tercer Tiempo F.C." and "Amor & Furia" May 25

Two lifestyle collections built on the energy of soccer: Tercer Tiempo F.C. takes its palette from the Mexican flag and CDMX taxis, Amor & Furia leans into acid-color intensity. Air Force 1, Air Max 95, Tiempo StreetGato, Air Max Plus, and Total 90 all carry the treatments.

Culture

French Montana and Max B Release 'Wave Gods 2: Cosmos Brothers'

A 26-track Coke Wave reunion: Max B's first full-length collaboration with French Montana since his 16-year prison sentence. Features Kanye, Rick Ross, Ron Isley, Ty Dolla $ign, and the late Chinx. The series that built melodic New York rap gets its long-overdue second chapter.

Culture

Joé Dwèt Filé Releases 15-Track 'Hatelove' Album

The Franco-Haitian singer's new album runs Caribbean rhythms into international rap across 15 tracks, with features from Shenseea, Rich the Kid, SDM, and KLN. His December date at Paris La Défense Arena, Europe's largest indoor venue, is already sold out.

Culture

NSG Releases 'Sounds of the Diaspora 2'

East London's NSG return with the sequel to January's 'Sounds of the Diaspora' — a 9-track follow-up that pulls Afroswing, Afrobeats, UK rap, and dance rhythms into the same room. Kenyan rapper Toxic Lyrikali features on his first international project.

Culture

Channel Tres Releases "Pop Pop" Ahead of Sophomore Album 'Enigma'

Channel Tres's second single of 2026 doubles down on the low-slung house template — co-written and co-produced with Nick Sylvester, "Pop Pop" lands as the next preview of his sophomore album 'Enigma' and a North American headlining tour.

Culture

Rob Base, Rapper Behind "It Takes Two," Dies at 59

The Harlem rapper born Robert Ginyard died on May 22, 2026, after a private battle with cancer. "It Takes Two," his 1988 duo with DJ E-Z Rock, is one of the founding records of hip-hop crossover — a Lyn Collins flip that has been sampled, covered, and stadium-played for 38 years.

Culture

Jack White Opens First Art Exhibition at Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery May 29

"These Thoughts May Disappear" runs through September 13 at Hirst's Newport Street Gallery in London — Jack White's first visual-art show, billed as "Hardware Store Art" and built from carpentry, upholstery, and found-material assemblage. Free admission.