The U.K. baddie and the Barbie once again prove to be a formidable duo teaming for the new song named “Boyz.” Sampling Diddy’s 2001 anthem “Bad Boy for Life.” The nostalgia doesn’t stop there they’ve also remade the music video, complete with a cameo from the Bad Boy icon himself.
Jesy Nelson, the British singer best known for her tenure as a member of Little Mix, is now stepping into a solo career with some controversy on social media following the release of “Boyz” as she has been accused of blackfishing.
The video itself does a great job paying homage to the song that was sampled, and even recreating icon scenes from the “Bad Boy for Life.” Nicki shouts out Puff Daddy & The Family in her verse. “Bad bitches want a Bad Boy / Word to Biggie, Diddy, and Ma$e,” she raps. “Whoa like Rob, won’t find a prettier face / He gon’ keep my VVS’s dancin’ like Total / So I could just Shyne while he shoot up the place.”
Nicki previously collaborated with Little Mix on the 2018 song “Woman Like Me.” She recently joined Bia on a remix of her single “Whole Lotta Money.” Earlier this year, she brought her 2009 mixtape Beam Me Up Scotty to streaming services with the new Drake and Lil Wayne–featuring the single “Seeing Green.” She also joined Polo G on the new song “For the Love of New York.”
Another designer label is being placed in the Rap spotlight now that 24kGoldn and Lil Tecca have linked up. Just two weeks after debuting the track during his set at New York City’s Governors Ball festival, 24kGoldn latest single “Prada.”
“Prada” is 24kGoldn’s first solo offering since he dropped his debut album El Dorado back in March. Despite featuring solid guest appearances from Future, DaBaby, Swae Lee, and others, no single from the project came close to matching the success of “Mood.”
That’s understandable, the smash hit spent 28 weeks in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, holding the top spot down for eight solid weeks. If nothing else, “Prada” proves 24kGoldn is no one-hit-wonder.
The new track was produced by Cxdy, Humblebee, Ovrcz and Taz Taylor, and it’s accompanied by a video shot and directed by John Tashiro. 24kGoldn and Lil Tecca takeover a Prada store where they flaunt their wealth, women, and their infatuation over the Italian luxury brand. The playful track is reminiscent of last year’s No. 1 hit “Mood,” as 24kGoldn displays his hitmaking potential with another bulletproof hook.
“Prada, that’s on my shoes, that’s on my shirt, that’s on my collar/I hit it once, ain’t hit her back ’cause I’m a baller,” the 20-year-old raps on the sing-song chorus.
Next for 24kGoldn, he’ll take to the road for his debut headlining tour, which starts in San Diego on Nov. 2. Check out the video for 24kGoldn and Lil Tecca’s collaborative single down below, and stream the track now on all major platforms.
The sneaker game as we know it, gone are the days when people used to camp out overnight at Foot Locker for limited-edition pairs. As it stands, there’s nothing joyful about the process of buying sneakers anymore due to automated shopping software (AKA bots), stores’ shady “backdoor” operations,” and entrepreneurial teens who buy pairs with a single goal in mind: to make a profit.
Well there is hope for the consumer who want back a level of accessibility, those who grow up in the culture and grow up in sneakers. KYX World is the answer, changing the rules with the world’s first subscription platform offering wide access to authentic, limited edition sneakers with a try-before-you-buy and non-committal sneaker access model, subscription to KYX and get fresh sneakers every month — wear them, and then choose to keep them, buy them, or swap them out for a new pair next month. Whether you want an Air Jordan, a Nike Dunk, or an Adidas Bad Bunny shoe.
This service helps sneakerheads get access to hyped, limited-edition pairs for a monthly fee — but the math suggests it may be best to save up to own them.
With hopes to promote a more inclusion in the sneaker community, KYX membership offers four levels of access, from $49 per month up to $599 month, these plans scale according to the total number of pairs allotted per month, as well as by value. Each level comes with an allowance to rent a specified range of sneakers per month, and as users pay more for higher levels, more perks are afforded. This includes options like the pool of shoes members have access to, monthly shipment value, number of swaps, how many shoes they can rent and, of course, the amount of money they have to rent with.
Brian Mupo, CEO and founder of Kyx World, formed this idea based off his own expererinces of buying sneakers, wearing them for a short period of time, and then flipping them, similar toa rental model.
“When I got them, saw them, and I put them on and saw how fly I looked. Some I would keep for a while, some I would wear once and I knew I wasn’t probably going to wear them again, either at all or for a long time, and then I would liquidate,” said Mupo
KYX World CEO Brian Mupo (left) and Steve Dorfman COO. Image via KYX
Today I was given the oppertunity to speak with Kami Thomas, the Director of Brand Strategy for KYX World about the mission of this brand, how this brand sees itself sucess using a method often used in real estate, the goal it has set for itself, where the brand sees itself in the future of sneakers, and how exactly KYX World acquires these sneaker that everyone wants.
How was Brian so sure a business model in real estate would work with sneakers?
The short answer is when you think about sneaker resell there’s kind of this entire group of people who are essentially renting shoes and then flipping them. For example, they’re taking a $500 pair of shoes, and then when they’re done with those shoes they’ll sell them… More or least get some of the money back to get a new pair. If you think about it just essentially engaging in rental behavior whether they know that or not.
Explain in greater detail these memberships and the particular value each one would bring to a sneakerhead.
So we have four membership levels, the first level you can rent one shoe per month and the fourth level you can rent 4 shoes per month. For example, if you’re a level 3 membership then you can rent up to three shoes per month at a minimum of $199 (per) month…the value it would bring to a sneakerhead is you could buy one shoe for $199 if you could find that price on the resell market or if you think about from a sneakerheads perspective you’re able to experience significantly more sneakers with KYX then you would if you were buying them outright. Unless you have unlimited capital, which most people don’t.
How does KYX see itself affecting the landscape of sneaker culture today and about 5 years from now?
I necessarily see that this is going to kind of throw a wrench in the sneaker reseller’s businesses they’re such an inaccessible industry for people a lot of people, I think we’re giving a level of accessibility back to the hands of the consumer…people who grow up in the culture and grow up in sneakers are not able to experience a lot of the sneakers because of the prices. So what I see KYX doing and how I see us affecting sneaker culture is kind of making it something that’s accessible again, putting sneaker back into the hands of the people who created that culture to began with.
So how did the partnership with sneaker cleaner brand Reshoevn8r come about?
We were introduced to Reshoevn8r through our Executive Creative Director, Jeff Staple, so now internally at KYX when we are cleaning all of our shoes we clean every shoe that comes back to us with those Reshoevn8r products.
Who would you say is the targeted audience for this kind of subscription service?
I think the obvious answer is “Well sneakerheads,” but the more specific answer is our main target audience would be people who love sneakers. This has been traditionally been a very male-heavy culture, with males between the ages of 18-35, but as the culture evolving women, gen-z, older gentlemen, and dads they’ve become a focus as well. I think sneakers are for everyone and everyone deserves to experience these shoes so I think our target audience is just people who really love the sneakers and the culture.
How exactly does Kyx plan to secure the highly coveted pairs, does Kyx have a plug in the industry for exclusive access?
That’s something we’re keeping to ourselves, for now however what I can say is first and for most, we don’t backdoor pairs. We don’t take them out of the hands of retail consumers and the second thing is that all of our shoes are absolutely authentic, but, I can’t get into the procurement of the shoes for now.
Adulting can be hard. Some days you’re nailing it, while other days, you’re just a stack of kids hiding in a trench coat hoping no one notices.
Twenty Something is a Pixar short created by Aphton Corbin, finds Gia celebrating her 21st birthday in an unfamiliar setting: a dance club in a nightclub that has her unraveling on the inside, feeling like 3 kids slacked on top of one another in a trench coat. Her inner 1, 10, and 16-year-old selves taking control of her actions, but through this night above her maturity level, Gia will discover that she’s not that unlike the other adults in the room.
Gia getting carded to get into the club.
Stylized drawings replacing Pixar’s typical CG models but that’s, not the only difference the tone and subject matter is certainly aimed at an older audience. Gia feels out of place and not ready to make adult choices, funny moments arise when they fight over who gets to “Steer,” exploring an Inside Out concept in a different way.
When she starts dancing with a guy, the sixteen-year-old takes charge, and hormones take over, leading to a big reveal and pure embarrassment, that sends Gia restroom stall to cry. But it’s here that she learns that every adult feels like a kid sometimes, reverting back to our younger selves when a situation arises.
Gia’s awkward encounter and dance with a handsome man.
Twenty Something is spot on with how we don’t always feel like we have it together and revert back to younger versions of ourselves not just in your 20s, but throughout your life. While most kids think we adults have everything together, with little understanding that we are just making up as we go.
This short is a part of the SparkShorts program designed to discover new storytellers, explore new storytelling techniques, and experiment with new production workflows. While many of the other Sparkshorts have dealt with harder-hitting themes, ‘Twenty Something’ deals with issues every adult has, and I’m sure adults will feel, it’s worth 5 minutes of their day to watch.
The Proud Family, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, will be back in 2022 bigger and better with The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on Disney+. Picking up the story 3 years from were last seen and Penny Proud (Kyla Pratt) now in high school accompanied with social media. The show will still be centered around Penny, her parents Oscar (Tommy Davidson) and Trudy (Paula Jai Parker), twin siblings BeBe and CeCe, and grandmother Suga Mama(JoMarie Payton) and Puff! Of course, it would not be “The Proud Family” without Penny’s loyal crew Dijonay Jones (Karen Malina White), LaCienega Boulevardez (Alisa Reyes), and Zoey Howzer (Soleil Moon Frye), among others.
Currently in production at Disney Television Animation, “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” is executive-produced by Bruce W. Smith (“The Princess and the Frog”) and Ralph Farquhar (“Moesha”), both of whom led the original series. Calvin Brown, Jr. (“Moesha”) is co-executive producer and story editor, Jan Hirota (“Big Hero 6 The Series”) is producer, and Eastwood Wong (“Carmen Sandiego”) is the art director.
‘THE PROUD FAMILY: LOUDER AND PROUDER’, released the character designs. Each character is 3 years older than when they were last seen and Penny and her friends are now in high school accompanied with social media.
Other recurring voices include Cedric the Entertainer as Uncle Bobby, Carlos Mencia as Felix Boulevardez, Maria Canals-Barrera as Sunset Boulevardez, Alvaro Gutierrez as Papi, Keke Palmer as Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, Billy Porter as Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins, Zachary Quinto as Barry Leibowitz-Jenkins, and EJ Johnson as Michael Collins.
In honor of the 20th anniversary of The Proud Family, a few stars from the revival share what the iconic original series meant to them, including Normani who calls her grandmother Suga Mama “because it’s literally what my household looked like;” Johnson added, “it was a huge part of my childhood and I hold that very dear to my heart.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder will bring high-voltage star power when the eagerly-awaited revival of the groundbreaking hit animated series, guest-starring voice cast will feature some of music and entertainment’s biggest names, including Lizzo; Lil Nas X; Chance the Rapper; Normani; Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”); Tiffany Haddish (“Like a Boss”); Lena Waithe (“Master of None”); Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”); Gabrielle Union (“L.A.’s Finest”); Debbie Allen (“Grey’s Anatomy”); James Pickens Jr. (Grey’s Anatomy”); Courtney B. Vance (“Lovecraft Country”); Jane Lynch (“Glee”); Marsai Martin (“Black-ish”); Jaden Smith (“After Earth”); Glynn Turman (“House of Lies”); Lamorne Morris (“New Girl”); Brenda Song (“Dollface”); Tina Knowles (“Black Is King”); Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”); Holly Robinson Peete (“21 Jump Street”); Al Roker (“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”); beauty influencer and social media personality Bretman Rock; Olympic gold medal gymnasts Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, and Dominique Dawes; and many more.
All seasons of the popular series are currently available on Disney+and The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder will premiere in 2022.
To impress his ex-girlfriend, Scott and Hooch must protect a grumpy judge from a mob assassin.
This episode had two running storylines the first and most central one was Scott Turner (Josh Peck) and Xavier (Brandon Jay McLaren) assigned to protect Judge Nelson (Tom Pickett) after death threats are received in response to a high-profile case, Jessica Baxter (Carra Patterson) is officially on desk duty which is why this team-up happens. The interesting thing about this episode is Scott’s and Laura’s (Lyndsy Fonseca) story running simultaneously and the theme of dealing with an ex while working towards their professional goals.
Judge Nelson is the absolute worst, needy, not thankful, and unkind. His requests are wild and that of a sociopath. Surprisingly Hooch has gotten Turner into any trouble up to this point and the reason could be that Hooch is paying attention to what Turner is paying attention to. For example, Erika’s (Vanessa Lengies) dog Angel staring at Turner. Amongst all these ridiculous requests Turner decides to share his feelings with the judge, leading himself into a big ‘ole pile of required community service.
Turner and Xavier doing community service thanks to Judge Nelson
Laura is trying to get her ex-husband to help her track down some files to help uncover more mysteries about their father’s case. She gets caught up in the childish tendencies of her ex-husband and stress ensues. She’s tired of being the ” vegetable mom” the one parent that has to say no to everything when it comes to raising their kid. Eventually, the two come to a parental agreement and he shares the files with Laura.
Meanwhile, snipers are still targeting the judge and putting him and the security detail in grave danger. Luckily, Turner and Xavier start to piece together the possibility of how the judge is being tracked (a tracker placed in his robe!) and how Hooch seems to be at attention at certain points (the frequency from the tracker is heard by only Hooch!). So, Erica in tow, they race off to protect the judge one last time before heading into the courthouse.
image via Disney
While Xavier takes control of the judge’s safety, Hooch leads Turne to the sniper and finally tackles and arrests him. Thanks to Erica’s advice on Hooch being able to hear the transmitting signal.
