Month: July 2023

Categories
Music

The Origin Story Behind the MF DOOM Mask and Other MF DOOM Facts

Nick Pickles/WireImage

MF DOOM is lowkey one of the most influential and well-respected figures to emerge out of hip-hop’s underground scene. A master of rhyme and disguise, his unorthodox style (think MF DOOM mask) and flow have been unmistakable for more than two decades. The undisputed underground legend never needed mainstream success. The supervillain-themed rapper instead left his mark on hip-hop culture as he carved out his own lane with his intricate rhyme schemes, humorous lyrics and a mastery of sampling. Despite his music being described as weird and dark by some listeners, he managed to satisfy fans and critics with his hard-hitting, boom bap raps and cult classics like Operation: Doomsday and Madvillainy.

In a 2021 interview with Inked Magazine, Playboi Carti spoke on the subtle impact of DOOM. “I don’t have to sound like MF DOOM to be inspired by him,” said the rap star who referenced DOOM on his Whole Lotta Red cut, “Stop Breathing.” “Nobody can keep a leash on him. Nobody can keep a leash on me. That’s definitely his impact. Even if I didn’t know that at first, I had to look up and think about this shit right here—it had already been done.”

Although known for his unique aesthetics and critically acclaimed albums and mixtapes, DOOM remained one of hip-hop’s most mysterious MCs over the course of his 20+ year career. Everything from his birthdate to the release date of his debut album have been up for debate. Even in his afterlife, MF DOOM managed to keep us guessing. Here are 6 things to know about MF DOOM, including the origin story behind the MF DOOM mask.

His mask was inspired by the ‘Gladiator’ film

It’s well known that some of MF DOOM’s music was inspired by Doctor Doom, the masked comic book villain. The MF DOOM mask, however, took inspiration from somewhere else. In a 2010’s interview DOOM said, “You know the movie Gladiator? Well around that time, they started selling these ‘gladiator masks’ that were replicas from the movie. So what it was is that a friend of mine told me he saw this mask that would be perfect for the DOOM character.”

He was a producer

MF DOOM crafted sounds for himself and others, including Joey Badass and Ghostface Killah. DOOM produced four tracks on Ghostface’s critically acclaimed 2006 album Fishscale.

He had several monikers

Active on the mic since the late 1980s, the rapper born Daniel Dumile began his rap career as Zev Love X, a member of the group KMD. He would go on to drop projects under several different aliases, including MF DOOM (Operation: Doomsday, Mm..Food & Born Like This), Viktor Vaughn (Vaudeville Villain & VV:2) and King Geedorah (Take Me to Your Leader).

He has a street named after him

J. Conrad Williams Jr.

MF DOOM was further immortalized last summer when a New York street was named after him. Located in Long Beach, NY, where the enigmatic rap veteran once resided, the New York block is now known as KMD-MF DOOM Way.

He was once had a record deal with Adult Swim

MF DOOM’s working relationship with Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim ran pretty deep. Not only did he voice characters for the network and feature his music in shows like The Boondocks, he also signed a recording contract with AS.

He was very particular about his name

MF DOOM stylized his name with all caps. ALL CAPS.

Categories
Popular Culture

All the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movies and Series in Order

Cue the theme song and bring out the pizza. From its inception as a comic in 1984, to its respective movies and television series, action figures, video games, and memorabilia, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been the very definition of a franchise for almost forty years. And while TMNT definitely has it’s die-hard lifelong fans that know everything Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles related like the back of their hand, there’s a new set of fans being introduced on a regular basis as well. If you fall into the latter (or are in the former and want to rewatch for the umpteenth time), we’ve put together a comprehensive guide of all the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies and series in order in preparation for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

Cowabunga!

RELATED: ‘TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge’: Our Playable Characters Wishlist

How many Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies are there?
New Line Cinema

Including the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, there’s seven films in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series as of this writing, plus a direct-to-video release entitled Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend. There was also a made-for-TV movie entitled Turtles Forever that aired in 2009 in celebration of the franchises’ 25th anniversary, and another special in 2015 entitled Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past. Oh and we can’t forget Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 2019 either.

How many Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series are there?
CBS

Since 1987, there’s been five Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle series. We’ll be diving into each series here shortly.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movies and Series in Chronological Order:
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Series) (1987 – 1996)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Movie) (1990)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret Of The Ooze (1991)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)
  • Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend (1996)
  • Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997 – 1998)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 – 2009)
  • TMNT (2007)
  • Turtles Forever (2009)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Series) (2012 – 2017)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Movie) (2014)
  • Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past (2015)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows (2016)
  • Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018-2020)
  • Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
  • Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 – 1996)
CBS

Our very first time seeing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on any kind of screen was in 1987, with its first official series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The pilot (which obviously tested well), was first aired in mid-December 1987, beginning its full-time run the first week of October 1988. The show centered around of the TMNT crew as they battled numerous villains like Shredder, Krang, and plenty more. The series was a notable shakeup from the darker nature of the comics, making it the perfect Saturday morning cartoon for kids.

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2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)
New Line Cinema

After a couple of years of success on the smaller screen, New Line Cinema decided to try their hands at a big-screen adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1990. While you didn’t necessarily need to watch the series to understand the movie as it was essentially a broader introduction to the franchise, there were some references pulled from the series, meaning that you wouldn’t have fully gotten it unless you watched the show. That aside, the 1990 version was about the TMNT gang battling against the Shredder and his Foot Clan to protect NYC, and went to become the highest-grossing independent film at the time of its release.

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3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret Of The Ooze (1991)
New Line Cinema

The success of the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1990 meant it was time for a sequel. Almost exactly one year later, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret Of The Ooze hit theaters, taking on lighter and much less violent tone than its predecessor. In addition to learning more about how the TMNT gang got together, we also learn Shredder is out for revenge by obtaining the same radioactive ooze that created the Turtles to create two new mutants: Tokka and Rahzar. Oh, and he plans on using it on himself too, which is kind of a problem.

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4. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)
New Line Cinema

Two years later, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III was released, and by this point it was clear that a new direction was going to be needed with the film series altogether. Part of this was due to the passing of Jim Henson, who provided much of the creative direction and vision of the previous two films. The plot switch was an interesting direction as it focused on a reporter (Paige Turco) who gets captured in another time dimension after purchasing an ancient Japanese scepter, but it still wasn’t enough to really move audiences.

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5. Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend (1996)
Bee Media

After the disappointment of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, the decision to produce major films in the TMNT franchise was put on hold. However, there was a one-off two-part special in 1996 entitled Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend that was released in Japan. The first part was based on the Supermutants line, with the second part being based on the Metal Mutation line. Each part was 25 minutes, making the entire runtime 50 minutes.

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6. Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997 – 1998)
Fox Kids

After the ending of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1996, a live-action series adaptation was attempted by Fox Kids called Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation. The crime fighting adventures of the Ninja Turtles was brought back in full, as it was a continuation of the events that took place in the films. While the decision to essentially move the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series the big screen to the small screen to see if it produced more success in that area was an understandable one, it still wasn’t a hit on television as it only lasted one season.

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7. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 – 2009)
Fox

This iteration of TMNT is what us millennials grew up with, so forgive us if we’re a bit partial. In our opinion, there’s something incredibly special about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in animation form, and that was proven with the 2000s version of the franchise, which ran from 2003 to 2009. While this iteration aligned more closely with the original comics, the overall theme of the TMNT gang fighting villains and protecting New York didn’t change much. There were 155 episodes produced during that six year run, and we’d venture to say that everyone deserves to be watched.

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8. TMNT (2007)
Warner Bros. Pictures

Similar to how things went down in 1990, the success of the 2000s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle series sparked another big screen film that hit theaters in 2007. By that point, it had been fourteen years since the release of the last Ninja Turtles film, but the decision was made to take the storyline in another direction. This time around, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo have grown apart, and they have to find a way to strengthen their bond before evil takes over and completely destroys the city. 

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9. Turtles Forever (2009)
TheCW4Kids

Two years after the release of TMNT and several months after the 2000s series ended, TheCW4Kids aired a television special entitled Turtles Forever, which was essentially the TMNT crew meeting a cloned version of themselves. In order to successfully defeat the Shredders, they’ve got to team up with themselves for the greater good. If you missed Turtles Forever during its original airing in 2009, you can catch up via streaming.

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10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012 – 2017)
Nickelodeon

The 2010s needed its own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, which was brought back in a CGI version via Nickelodeon from 2012 to 2017. The series started with the turtles emerging from its sewer inception to once again defend the city of New York against evil forces from the past and present. The Kraang storyline was incorporated much more into this version then previously seen before, and the show as a whole was received well, earning Nickelodeon its highest ratings for an animated series since 2009 with its debut. The series spanned five seasons first airing on Nick, and then Nicktoons.

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11. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)
Paramount Pictures

Back to the movies. In 2014, Michael Bay decided to bring back the Ninja Turtles in a live-action big screen format with the film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Megan Fox starred as journalist April O’Neil, who’s assignment was to follow and document TMNT’s every move as they went about their day of fighting villains and protecting New York as usual. The 2014 version served as a reboot for live-action series and films.

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12. Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past (2015)
Nickelodeon

Airing on Nickelodeon in 2015, Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past was a one-hour television special based on the respective Nickelodeon series that centered around the Half Shell Heroes toy-line as the turtles get blasted back into the past, and have to find their way through the pre-historic dinosaurs and triceratons in order to get back home.

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13. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows (2016)
Paramount Pictures

The sequel to 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Out Of The Shadows hit theaters in 2016, this time facing a new challenge with Shredder escaping from custody to join forces with a mad world domination-plotting scientist named Baxter Stockman. While Out Of The Shadows did receive better reviews from critics as opposed to the first film, the tradeoff was that it didn’t perform as well at the box office meaning that we didn’t get a third movie, and that the Ninja Turtles big screen film adaptations were put on hold until…now.

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14. Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018 – 2020)
Nickelodeon

In 2018, Nickelodeon decided to give another animated TMNT series a shot entitled Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which aired on the platform from 2018 to 2020. While this version was CGI (just standard animation), the basis of the series didn’t stray too far away from what we know the Ninja Turtles to be—NYC crimefighters. The series spanned two seasons on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons respectively, and while there hasn’t been another TMNT series since, history tells us that another one will probably pop back up within the next five to ten years.

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15. Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
Warner Bros. Entertainment

The linkup we didn’t know we needed. In 2019, Batman and the Ninja Turtles joined forces along with Batgirl and Robin to battle against The Shredder, who himself has teamed up with Ra’s Al Ghul and The League Of Assassins to wreak havoc. The film was released direct-to-video and Blu-ray on June 4, 2019, earning over $3 million from home video sales.

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16. Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022)
Netflix

The Netflix film sequel to the Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that aired on Nickelodeon/Nicktoon, the Ninja Turtles receive a visit from Casey Jones from the future telling that impending doom is on the way in the form of…the Krang. While it’s helpful to have watched the series, the film does work as a standalone, and can essentially introduce you to the TMNT storyline if you are unfamiliar.

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17. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Paramount Pictures

Due out on August 2, 2023, the Ninja Turtles are being re-invented…again. Since there will be a new audience being introduced for the first time, the backstory stays the same—you’ll meet the mutant teens in New York, and the reporter that covers them—April Jones. We’ll have to see what this particular version brings once its officially released, but one thing’s for sure—there’s going to be more coming whether its on the big screen or small.

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The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movies and Series in Release Order:
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Series) (1987 – 1996)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Movie) (1990)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret Of The Ooze (1991)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993)
  • Mutant Turtles: Superman Legend (1996)
  • Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation (1997 – 1998)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003 – 2009)
  • TMNT (2007)
  • Turtles Forever (2009)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Series) (2012 – 2017)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Movie) (2014)
  • Half-Shell Heroes: Blast To The Past (2015)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows (2016)
  • Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018-2020)
  • Batman Vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)
  • Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (2022)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)

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Categories
Collectibles

Mascot Simplifies the Trading Card World With Innovative Technology

Have you heard about Mascot and their innovative new technology that aims to change the way you manage and sell your cards?

With new buying, selling and trading outlets rolling out seemingly daily, the process of keeping a trading card collection organized has grown to be harder and harder. There are dozens of places to sell trading cards but no clear guide to inventory management. Until now.

Enter Mascot, an all-in-one, digital asset management tool for your cards. Users can upload their graded and raw singles into Mascot’s database, which is seamlessly integrated into the biggest marketplaces in the hobby. If you’re a shop owner, an everyday collector, or a new hobbyist, Mascot’s software is built to maximize efficiency.

We caught up with Ezra Levine, Mascot’s CEO, at the National Sports Collectors Convention. With the hype and speculation that the National brings, Levine and his team looked to educate hobbyists on the benefits of using Mascot. Here’s what he had to say about the newest five-tool software for the hobby:

Mascot

Q&A with Ezra Levine, CEO of Mascot:

Talk about your journey in the hobby and how it led to landing at Mascot. Were there any lessons or feedback you picked up from Collectable that you will take with you in this new venture?

As an entrepreneur in the industry, and having co-founded a few properties such as Collectable and The MINT Collective, I was immediately excited when I thought about the potential of Mascot. I was evaluating a lot of opportunities and Mascot continued to win out because of its ability to solve real pain points and reduce friction across the industry – whether you’re a collector, dealer, marketplace, grading company, local card shop, or live event. It saves people their two most precious resources, time and money. Simply put, Mascot is the fastest way to list your sports cards, non-sports cards, TCG, and comic books – either graded or raw – on secondary marketplaces AND the fastest way for people to manage and price their inventory. What used to take days or hours, now takes seconds or minutes with Mascot. That’s why I joined Mascot, and that’s why we’re so excited to roll it out to the collecting community. 

The last three years of trading cards have resulted in a huge influx and migration of collectors. With the current state of the hobby, is there a target audience for a service like Mascot?  

The industry has undergone dramatic change over the last few years. On the pricing side, vintage, low population assets continue to show strength whereas modern assets have fallen back to earth dramatically. Still, the activity levels in the industry continue to be incredibly strong. The collecting boom brought a lot of human and financial capital to the industry  and continues to elevate the industry to new heights and awareness. With Fanatics and other large firms such as Blackstone, Amazon, DraftKings, TikTok, IMG, IAC and others making meaningful investments in the category – along with teams and leagues now incentivized to promote the industry – I’m incredibly bullish on the future of collectibles. Think about it. Only about 1 million people collect out of a population of over 2 billion global sports fans, alone. That’s a tiny percentage today. Now compare that to sports gambling or fantasy sports, which are used by close to 20-25% of sports fans. And that’s just sports! This industry has huge growth potential if we can solve for ease of access, excitement, trust, and bringing the infrastructure up to speed. Mascot is an incredibly valuable tool to reduce friction and increase connectivity of the entire industry. Mascot will become even more important as the hobby continues to reach a wider audience. People will always have inventory that needs to be managed effectively and easily, and transacting will never go out of style. 

Mascot

Do you envision a social/community-building component for Mascot? (i.e. collector profiles and ways to access their stores)

Absolutely. Already through Mascot, people can create storefronts through Shopify and manage and blast out their inventory through their own distribution channels with Mascot serving as the backend operating and inventory management system. We will also have the ability for people to share profiles and inventory. There’s so much more we can do on the social/community-building side as we continue to build. 

Card shows and conventions are the heart of the hobby. How does Mascot help collectors when they’re traveling to and from shows?

Pricing and managing inventory is a real pain point, particularly as people prepare and activate at card shows and conventions. I know some dealers who have spent weeks preparing and updating their inventory for the National. We are in the final stages of rolling out pricing data integrations directly through Mascot that will alleviate that point of pain. Mascot can also keep track of all the inventory dealers and collectors bring, sell, or buy at the shows, and handle all the backend accounting functions needed to stay on top of it all. Mascot will become an invaluable and sticky tool for collectors and dealers once they discover it.

Wha was your pitch for people at the National who were just learning about Mascot for the first time?

Simply put, Mascot is the fastest way to list your sports cards, non-sports cards, TCG, and comic books – either graded or raw – on secondary marketplaces AND the fastest way for people to manage and price their inventory. Mascot saves people their two most precious resources: time and money. What used to take hours or days cataloging inventory and creating marketplace listings now literally takes seconds or minutes with Mascot. Plus, the platform is completely free to sign up. We are integrated with true market leaders such as eBay, MySlabs, Amazon, PSA, Beckett, SGC, CGC, Tag, CardHedge, and plenty more to come. 

Mascot

Walk me through the next 6-12 months for Mascot. 

Mascot is laser-focused on increasing the secondary market sales channels that are available via Mascot, and on increasing the number of verticals we support. With Mascot, we want users to be able to manage and sell their items across whatever channels they want. You will see many other partnerships with leading secondary market channels and the ability to support even more categories such as sealed wax, tickets, photos, memorabilia, etc. 

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

To give an example of the power of Mascot, VeeFriends and GaryVee uploaded roughly 300 cards from a CSV file they pulled from a vault. Within under 45 seconds, they had their inventory fully synced onto Mascot, with all high res images, grading data, card data, and more. Collectors will be amazed at how fast and sleek the platform is and how useful it will be to their workflow. We’re excited to get the word out.

You can sign up for free on www.withmascot.com and follow us on all socials @withmascot. For any questions, reach out to support@withmascot.com. 

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Categories
Gaming

‘Starfield’ Release Date: Story, Gameplay, and More

starfield

Bethesda Game Studios has earned a reputation for crafting some of the finest action RPGs ever made – thanks to its sublime work on The Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises, the development house is recognized for its commitment to highly immersive games with tons of content to enjoy. While the studio has had its fair share of misses in the past and has gotten flack for buggy releases at launch, Bethesda Game Studios has gone out of its way to remedy its mistakes and refine its massive games to appease its massive audience. Now the studio is finally ready to send players into the vast expanses of space in an all-new IP that has been dubbed by many as “Skyrim in space.” Join us as we take a deep look at what you can expect to see and do in the upcoming release of Starfield.

RELATED: 15 Games Like ‘Skyrim’ That Are Perfect For Any RPG Fan

Release Date
Bethesda Softworks

Starfield is finally set to take orbit on September 1, 2023, for the Digital Premium Edition, Premium Edition, and Constellation Edition (Early Access). Everyone else will get to play the game on September 6, 2023, for the Standard Edition. It’s also worth noting that Starfield will be available on Xbox Series X|S and PC – Steam. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to access the game on its standard launch day, by the way.

The Standard Edition comes with the physical base game and pre-order bonuses in the form of bonus skins for the “Old Mars Skin Pack,” which includes the following – the “Laser Cutter,” a “Deep Mining Helmet,” and a “Deep Mining Pack.” The Digital Premium Edition also comes with the digital base game, the Old Mars Skin Pack, access to the “Shattered Space” story expansion upon release, the “Constellation Skin Pack” (which comes with the “Equinox Laser Rifle,” a Spacesuit, Helmet, and “Boost Pack”), and access to the Starfield digital artbook & original soundtrack (which is also digital).

The Premium Edition comes with everything the Digital Premium Edition features (except the base game, which is sold separately for some odd reason…), plus physical bonuses in the form of a steelbook display case and a constellation patch. And finally, the extra special Constellation Edition (THANKFULLY!) comes with the digital base game, the pre-order bonus featured with every other edition, a Credit Stick with Laser-Etched Game Code, the “Shattered Space” story expansion upon release, the Constellation Skin Pack, the digital artbook & original soundtrack, the steelbook display case, the constellation patch, and a special Starfield Chronomark watch & case.

Does ‘Starfield’ Have Multiplayer?
Bethesda Softworks

While this game is a massive interplanetary adventure that looks like it would be perfect for multiple players to hop into and play alongside each other, Bethesda Game Studios has confirmed that Starfield will be a strictly single-player release.

Story

Starfield takes place beyond the stars – it’s primarily set in a pocket of space set outward from the Solar System that’s approximately 50 light-years. The people living and working within it refer to it as “The Settled Systems.” In the year 2130, two massive factions called the “United Colonies” and “Freestar Collective” get caught up in a major conflict called the “Colony War.” Your custom space explorer pops up 20 years after that clash comes to a close, which has resulted in both sides entering an era of peace (albeit an uneasy one that could fall apart at a moment’s notice). Your character eventually becomes a member of space explorers called “Constellation” and ventures out to different planets to seek out & discover rare artifacts along the way.

Gameplay
Bethesda Softworks

Starfield is an action RPG that lets players play from either a first- or third-person perspective (which can be instantly switched between at a moment’s notice). Players will embark on a vast journey that will transport them to more than 1,000 explorable planets via spaceship travel, which all have procedurally generated elements that impact the appearance of their landscapes, alien flora & fauna, and local wildlife. As you make your way across those planets, you can extract and harvest its natural resources for crafting purposes. You can also create temporary homes there via outposts, which play a huge part in the advancement of your resource tasks. Once you’ve installed laboratories into your outposts, you can use them to craft items and upgrades from the following groups – Pharmacology, Food & Drink, Outpost Development, Equipment, and Weaponry.

You’ll also traverse to moons, space stations, and a massive hub city called “New Atlantis.” As you make your way around the Milky Way galaxy, you’ll run into NPCs – depending on your interactions with them, they can become a crew member that may aid you during combat, carry items for you, speak to other NPCs on your behalf, and offer their opinions on the major decisions you’ll make along the way. Mass Effect fans will be happy to know that you can romance any of the NPCs you’ve recruited.

Bethesda Softworks

Heavy customization features are attached to the creation of your custom avatar (who is a silent protagonist, by the way). While making your male or female avatar, you can determine their three starting skills based on their character background. And over time, your character will unlock additional traits that will improve certain aspects of their skillset. The game’s skill trees are split up into the following attributes (which can be ranked up by completing assorted challenges) – Physical, Combat, Science, Tech, and Social. During combat, you can rely on plenty of ranged firearms, melee weapons, and explosives to get the job done. Certain attachments can improve aspects of your favorite weapons, such as a telescopic sight that can improve a gun’s down-the-sight accuracy. Strong mobility also comes into play during combat since you can use a jetpack (which is referred to as a “boostpack”) to get the jump on your enemies. Boostpacks can also be used to traverse the varied environments you’ll find yourself in.

Another major aspect of Starfield’s gameplay is the player’s ability to craft, purchase, and pilot spaceships. As you discover “spaceports” around each planet, you’ll be able to frequent them as you purchase/sell spaceship parts and even have your custom ship repaired there. The main parts of your ship that can be tinkered with include its components, facilities, rooms, paint color, decorations, and weapons. While in space, you may find yourself caught up in explosive ship battles – Starfield’s “power allocation” mechanic plays a huge part in powering up your weapons or “Grav Drive” should you want to escape faster-than-light jumps. Combative ship commanders will love the fact that they can hop aboard NPC-commanded ships and either plunder them by killing everyone on board and taking over their ship or speaking/trading with the occupants on board in a friendlier manner.

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Categories
Music

Dc2Trill Unveils His New Album, ‘Family Matters’

For those who have been in tune with the ONE37pm music team, Dc2Trill should be no stranger. The noteworthy hip-hop talent just dropped off his latest project, Family Matters, and didn’t disappoint, to say the least. The Texas native signed to Lil Yachty, and is coming up gracefully alongside the rest of his Concrete Boys comrades. 2023 has been a big year for Dc to put it lightly: the last time we wrote about him, he was on Drake‘s private plane the next day.

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Dc2Trill

Fun fact: Dc2Trill was the first artist to join us on our Type Beats series – alongside Draft Day, who he brought as a surprise guest.

Dc2Trill has always been dropping fire music, but it’s such a satisfying feeling to listen to an album all the way through without skipping any songs. Such was the case for the new album, Family Matters.

The features were as strong as they come, with Babyface Ray, CEO Trayle, KARRAHBOO, G.T., and of course, Lil Yachty (on two songs, nonetheless). Even so, Dc arguably shined the brightest on his solo songs, like “Van Cleef Anklet” for example.

When we asked Dc about what made this project different, he had this to say:

Dc2Trill

I took my time to make sure every track was special in its own way, and I went to different groups to test the project out – to see how they react differently.

Fans have come to expect wildly cunning bars, a refined rhythmic approach, and unmatched energy. Lo and behold, they weren’t let down on Family Matters.

So far, we’ve only scratched the surface. When you get down to the details, you’ll find an enormous amount of depth within Family Matters: the lyrics, the videos, and the other intricate aspects will open your eyes to the skillset of Dc2Trill. Earlier this week, Dc2Trill dropped off his video for “B.R.A. Freestyle”:

Just last weekend, Dc2Trill joined Lil Yachty on stage at Rolling Loud Miami alongside his fellow Concrete Boys members – and Boat even brought out Kai Cenat to perform “Bustdown Rollie Avalanche.”

If you haven’t noticed already, Dc2Trill’s name has been popping up more and more – and for good reason. Tune in to Family Matters to understand why, and thank us later.

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The 14 Best Ice Cube Movies Ever, Ranked

Ice Cube is not only a Jack of all trades, he’s a master of them!  The rap legend, actor, director and producer has carved an unparalleled path in entertainment. He seamlessly went from rap icon to Hollywood power player to sports league founder. With hard-hitting tracks that candidly depicted the realities of life in South Central LA, Cube’s lyrical prowess and raw storytelling earned him widespread recognition. He began shaking things up from his early days in the spotlight as a member of the groundbreaking gangsta rap group N.W.A. As a solo artist he continued to make major noise with hit albums like AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and Death Certificate. Cube’s musical journey laid the foundation for his remarkable success in the film industry. Ice Cube proved his acting chops with breakout performances in movies like Boyz n the Hood (1991) and Higher Learning (1995). His ability to seamlessly portray complex characters earned him praise from critics and audiences alike. As Cube continued to explore diverse genres, his creative range expanded, and he earned commercial success with comedic hits like Friday (1995). Let’s take a nostalgic journey through Ice Cube’s illustrious film career. Here are the 14 most memorable Ice Cube movies ever.

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14. Straight Outta Compton

Year Released: 2015

Genre: Drama/Music

Straight Outta Compton is the electrifying biopic about the rise of Ice Cube’s real-life rap group, N.W.A. Although Cube doesn’t act in the film, his role as a producer and the fact that his own son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., plays him, makes this a must-watch for any Ice Cube fan. From the streets of Compton to the global stage, this film offers an unflinchingly honest look into Cube’s early life and career, imbuing it with a depth that is both revealing and riveting.

13. Three Kings

Year Released: 1999

Genre: Action/Adventure

Ice Cube teams up with George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg in this action-adventure that’s as funny as it is thrilling. His portrayal of the cynical yet principled Staff Sergeant Chief Elgin is both heartfelt and compelling, proving that Cube is as adept at high-stakes drama as he is at comedy.

12. Anaconda

Year Released: 1997

Genre: Horror/Adventure

Anaconda can be considered an adrenaline-pumping jungle adventure. This thriller delivers a blend of suspense, high-stakes action, and pulse-pounding excitement and features Ice Cube acting alongside Jennifer Lopez.

11. XXX: State of the Union

Year Released: 2005

Genre: Action/Adventure

10. All About the Benjamins

Year Released: 2002

Genre: Action/Comedy

All About the Benjamins is an action-packed rollercoaster ride with the unforgettable duo of Ice Cube and Mike Epps at its helm. This comedy is cherished by fans for its non-stop humor and memorable one-liners.

9. Are We There Yet?

Year Released: 2005

Genre: Comedy/Family

When it comes to film genres, Ice Cube does it all. Just look at the family comedy Are We There Yet?, which blends heartwarming moments with laugh-out-loud humor. Through hilarious misadventures, unexpected detours, and heartwarming moments of connection, Are We There Yet? leaves a lasting impression on viewers.

8. Ride Along

Year Released: 2014

Genre: Action/Comedy

In this box-office hit, Ice Cube plays the tough-as-nails cop ‘James Payton’, who takes his future brother-in-law on a hilarious 24-hour patrol of Atlanta. The dynamic chemistry between Cube and co-star Kevin Hart is undeniable, making this action-comedy a highlight of Cube’s filmography and one that fans revisit time and again.

7. 21 Jump Street

Year Released: 2012

Genre: Action/Comedy

In this brilliant reboot of the ’80s TV show, Ice Cube plays ‘Captain Dickson’, the gruff and no-nonsense boss of undercover cops ‘Schmidt’ and ‘Jenko’. His comedic chops shine brightly here, delivering a memorable performance that perfectly complements the film’s overall humorous tone.

6. Next Friday

Year Released: 2000

Genre: Comedy

Next Friday is a hilarious and uproarious comedy. The film follows the misadventures of Craig Jones, portrayed by Ice Cube, as he navigates the wild and wacky world of the suburbs after his crazy escapades in the original Friday. It’s hard to overlook the chemistry between Cube’s and Mike Epps’s characters.

5. Barbershop

Year Released: 2002

Genre: Comedy

In a heartwarming mix of comedy and drama, Ice Cube portrays Calvin Palmer, a man grappling with the prospect of selling his inherited barbershop. The movie brings together a unique ensemble of eccentric characters, and Cube’s natural comedic timing combined with the genuine moments of heartfelt emotion truly shines in this everyday, yet profound narrative.

4. Higher Learning

Year Released: 1995

Genre: Drama

Directed by the visionary filmmaker John Singleton, this cult classic has left an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences since its release. It featured a crew of talented actors, including Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube and Regina King. Released in 1995, “Higher Learning” garnered critical acclaim, striking a chord with audiences as it fearlessly confronted the challenges faced by students from diverse backgrounds. Singleton’s insightful direction and the film’s raw authenticity resonated with viewers, sparking intense discussions and debates long after the credits rolled.

3. The Players Club

Year Released: 1998

Genre: Drama/Comedy

The Players Club is a compelling journey through the nightclubs, dreams, and drama of the late ’90s. Directed by the Ice Cube, this film has solidified its place as a cult classic that continues to resonate with audiences to this day. Bernie Mac’s electrifying presence as the club’s hilarious and no-nonsense DJ fuels the movie with unforgettable moments. Jamie Foxx, with his charismatic flair, plays a pivotal role in shaping Diana’s destiny, adding depth to the narrative. Ice Cube himself makes a memorable appearance, cementing his reputation not only as a talented director but also as a performer.  Its gripping storyline, along with the magnetic performances by the cast, contributed to its enduring appeal.

2. Boyz n the Hood

Year Released: 1991

Genre: Drama/Crime

In one of his earliest yet most iconic roles, Ice Cube plays ‘Doughboy’, a character living in the violent neighborhoods of South Central Los Angeles. The gritty depiction of urban life and Cube’s powerful performance adds a level of authenticity to this ground-breaking film that resonated with audiences around the globe.

1. Friday

Year Released: 1995

Genre: Comedy

Friday stands as one of the most recognized and beloved films in Ice Cube’s filmography. As ‘Craig Jones’, Cube takes us through a roller coaster of a day filled with memorable characters, hilarious one-liners, and moments of surprising depth. A simple premise executed to comedic perfection, this film was a testament to Cube’s versatility and talent as an actor.

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The Guns N’ Roses Albums, Ranked

UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 20: WEMBLEY STADIUM Photo of GUNS & ROSES and GUNS N' ROSES and Brian MAY and SLASH and GUNS AND ROSES, Slash & Brian May performing on stage at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert (Photo by Mick Hutson/Redferns)

Time to bust out the guns. Guns N’ Roses that is. One of the greatest rock bands in history that has amassed over 100 million records sold, GNR has been consistently blessing our ears with incredible music for nearly 40 years. Now when you have a catalog that spans close to four decades, it’s hard to definitively say what is the best (especially when you are putting your name behind the ranking). Thankfully, Guns N’ Roses has made it rather easy for us because all of their albums are incredible. If you haven’t already figured it out—we’re taking a look at all 6 Guns N’ Roses albums, ranked.

Time to bust out your top hats people, but first, a little history.

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When Were Guns N’ Roses Founded?
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The early makings of Guns N’ Roses dates back to 1984, when then-Hollywood Rose member Izzy Stradlin was living the L.A. Guns’ Tracii Guns. The L.A. Guns needed a new singer, and Stradlin knew a guy—his name was Axl Rose. Ever heard of him? Anyway, a year later (March 1985) to be exact, Guns N’ Roses was officially created by Rose (who came up with the idea after being fired by the L.A. Guns’ manager), and the lineup at time went like this: Izzy Stradlin, Axl Rose, Rob Gardner, Tracii Guns and Ole Beich. Like a good percentage of bands (especially from that era), there was some lineup changes—Tracii Guns left and was replaced by a fellow names Slash.

Beich was fired after a couple of not-so-great rehearsals, and was replaced by Duff McKagan, and Rob Gardner quit, which resulted in Steve Adler replacing him. The lineup was finalized, and thus Guns N’ Roses was birthed.

How Many Records Has Guns N’ Roses Sold to Date?
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As we mentioned earlier, Guns N’ Roses have sold over 100 million records (45 million of which are U.S. sales) to date. This number makes them of the best-selling acts in musical history.

What Is Guns N’ Roses Best Selling Album?
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This has nothing to do with our album ranking by the way. Guns N’ Roses’ best-selling album is their debut Appetite for Destruction, which has sold over 30 million records worldwide.

Now onto the ranking.

6. Chinese Democracy (2008)
  • Our Favorite Song: “Better”

We’ll be the first to tell you that even with the No. 3 debut on the U.S. Billboard 200 and the platinum certification that 2008’s Chinese Democracy remains an underrated body of work. However, there was also a lot that went on with the group in between 1993’s “The Spaghetti Incident?” and this record. In fact, let’s breakout the bulleted list.

  • Bands go through lineup changes all the time (even once they’ve reached the level of Guns N’ Roses), so changing members isn’t really a shocker. That said, there were quite a few shifts and shakeups, including Slash’s departure in 1996.
  • While the members that were present recorded dozens of songs together with the intent to release them over the course of time, it didn’t actually result in an album being released as said album was in development hell.
  • Chinese Democracy was actually supposed to come out in 1999, but it was delayed and eventually scrapped to be re-recorded.
  • With this being the most expensive rock album ever produced, you would think there would have to be an issue of budgets that came into play at some point.
  • Chinese Democracy was supposed to come out in March 2007, but once again, it did not.

Now if you look solely at the numbers, you’ll hear people saying that Chinese Democracy was a disappointment, and while it may not have met what was expected of it sales-wise (especially when you factor in what it cost to make the album), the sales don’t indicate how much of a dime piece this album was and still is. For starters, Chinese Democracy got leaked before its release, and when you factor in the 2000s penchant for illegal music, that was pretty much the nail in the coffin. Also, technically speaking, this wasn’t the Guns N’ Roses that people were used to from a lineup perspective, so you had some fans that chose to not support.

Putting those elements to the side completely, Chinese Democracy is album that stands up on its own with jams like “Better,” “Street of Dreams,” and “Shackler’s Revenge.” The views for the individual songs on this record are quite high on YouTube, which means this is an album that’s getting more appreciated now than what it did at the time of its release. And we love it.

5. “The Spaghetti Incident?” (1993)
  • Our Favorite Song: “Since I Don’t Have You”

“The Spaghetti Incident?” is an interesting album as it’s composed of classic covers. While this isn’t really a “thing” anymore in the music industry, it wasn’t unheard of “back in the day” for artists to make entire records that consisted of covers. While some may not like the idea, we’ve personally always thought that the concept is interesting. What started out as a EP later turned into album full of spontaneity, and the rest is history here people. GNR took on iconic punk and rock hits such as The Skyliners’ “Since I Don’t Have You,” The New York Dolls’ “Human Being,” Nazareth’s “Hair of the Dog,” and the Sex Pistols’ “Black Leather.”

4. Use Your Illusion II (1991)
  • Our Favorite Song: “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”

It legit took us about five minutes to decide where exactly we wanted to put Use Your Illusion II on this list, and frankly, we’re still not sure if we’ve got it right. It’s not often that you can get almost three years out of an album, but Guns N’ Roses did with this one as the first single “You Could Be Mine” was released on June 21, 1991, and the final single, “Estranged” was released on January 17th, 1994. Use Your Illusion II debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. charts, selling 685,000 copies it’s first week.

The album is truly incredible as you had the aforementioned “You Could Be Mine” and “Estranged,” and in between there was “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” “Yesterdays,” and “Civil War,” that was also released as singles. Aside from the singles, there were the deep cuts like “Get in the Ring,” and “Breakdown.” Like we said, an incredible album. One that has sold close to six million units in the United States as of 2010.

3. G N’ R Lies (1988)
  • Our Favorite Song: “Reckless Life (Live)”

There’s several things we love about G N’ R Lies starting with the live/faux live tracks. “Reckless Life” is the perfect opening track to get you hype, “Nice Boys” and “Move to the City” could have been singles in our opinion, and the Aerosmith cover “Mama Kin” does the original justice. The second half of the album being all-acoustic is another component that while appreciated, still doesn’t get appreciated enough. All-acoustic? Come on now. That’s next level. Our only complaint about G N’ R Lies is that it’s too short.

2. Use Your Illusion I (1991)
  • Our Favorite Song: “Live and Let Die”

Use Your Illusion I is where we began to see the early makings of Guns N’ Roses really experimenting with their sound. With Use Your Illusion I not only did you get the classic heavy metal sound, you also got blues, classical, and even a slight bit of R&B. Getting to see an artist evolve from the beginning of their careers is a beautiful thing, and you really see that in tracks such as  “Don’t Cry ” and “Perfect Crime.” “Back off Bitch” is a beloved song in the GNF fan community. “Live and Let Die,” is well, “Live and Let Die.” And we must say the production on this album is stellar.

1. Appetite for Destruction (1987)
  • Our Favorite Song: “Welcome to the Jungle”

We’re just going to come right out and say it—Appetite for Destruction is one of the best debut albums ever. Like…how do you even come up with a song like “Welcome to the Jungle” on your first go-round? What even is that? Then you have “Paradise City,” “Night Train,” “Mr. Brownstone,” “My Michelle,” “Think About You”—matter of fact the whole dang album dangit! Let’s take a look at the stats on this one, and yes we’re going to bust out the bulleted list again.

  • No. 1 on the US Billboard 200
  • 30 million copies sold
  • The seventh best-selling album of all time
  • The best-selling debut album by an artist
  • Over one million sold in the U.K.
  • Certified 18x platinum by the RIAA as of September 2008

In short—the damn thing was done by Guns N’ Roses. If there’s any one GNR album that you should listen to in order (which we recommend doing for all), it should be this one. No cap.

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The 101 Top Songs of 1983

1983 was a hell of year in music. A hell of a year. From Michael Jackson exploding with Thriller, to Flashdance and its respective soundtrack, to rock & roll producing classic after classic, some of the best songs to ever be created in music history were released in the year 1983, and guess what? These songs are turning the big 4-0 this year. That’s right, these legendary tracks celebrated/are celebrating their 40th birthday, so we’re taking a look back to celebrate right alongside them. There were so many hits in the year 1983 that there was no way we could make this list any shorter than 100. So here it is—the 101 top songs from the year 1983.

Enjoy the throwback.

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1. “Billie Jean”
Michael Jackson
  • Release Date: January 2nd, 1983

Michael Jackson quite literally woke up on January 1st, 1983 and decided 1983 was going to be the year he ended everybody. The following day, “Billie Jean” was officially released to radio, and as they say, the rest was history. Or HIStory shall we say.

2. “Every Breath You Take”
The Police
  • Release Date: May 20th, 1983

This magical classic of song was released on May 20th, 1983, and has gone on to become on the defining songs of the early 1980s. “Every Breath You Take” was written by Sting, and the song spent eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

3. “Flashdance… What a Feeling”
Irene Cara
  • Release Date: March 1983

“Flashdance… What a Feeling,” aka the final song that Jennifer Beals dances to for her audition in Flashdance. Classic movie, and a classic song from a wonderful artist.

4. “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
Bonnie Tyler
  • Release Date: June 12th, 1983 (U.S.)

We’re willing to bet there isn’t a single soul on planet Earth that doesn’t know this song (or at least recognize the opening notes). Another defining jam from the early 1980s.

5. “Beat It”
Michael Jackson
  • Release Date: February 14th, 1983

“Beat It.” Number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. Ranked the No. 5 song of 1983. Certified 8x platinum. Over 11 million copies sold worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. A masterpiece of a song.

6. “Down Under”
Men at Work
  • Release Date: November 2nd, 1981

“Down Under” was what you call a “slow burn” single, as it was released in Australia at the beginning of November 1981. The following month, the song reached No. 1 on the Australian charts, and its popularity began to spread. “Down Under” hit No. 1 on the New Zealand charts in February 1982, and topped the Canadian charts eight months later in October 1982. Finally, in November 1982, the track debuted on the Billboard Hot 100, and two months later, it snagged the top spot giving the band a number one hit. All-in-all, it took over about a year for the song to crossover to the States, and a little over a year for it to hit No.1. You don’t really see that too often anymore.

7. Maniac
Michael Sembello
  • Release Date: May, 1983

Another classic song from Flashdance that’s insanely catchy.

8. “Maneater”
Hall & Oates

We saw Hall & Oates in concert a couple of year back, and it can confirm that “Maneater” still very much gets the people going.

9. “Baby, Come to Me”
Patti Austin and James Ingram

A timeless song that’s just super lovey dovey and feel good.

10. “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)”
The Eurythmics
  • Release Date: January 21st, 1983

If “Sweet Dreams” doesn’t put you in a trance, then we’re not sure if you can rock with us. Shout to the fashion killa Annie Lenox.

11. “She Works Hard for the Money”
Donna Summer
  • Release Date: May 10th, 1983

She works hard for the money so you better treat her right. Ya heard?

12. “Come on Eileen”
Dexy’s Midnight Runners
  • Release Date: June 25th, 1982

If you’ve ever heard “Come on Eileen,” then you already know it sounds like three songs in one. Because it’s so unique, it takes more than one listen to fully catch on, but once it does, you’re in.

13. “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”
Culture Club
  • Release Date: September 2nd, 1982

All together now. “Do you really want to hurt me? Do you really want to make me cry?” Time to bust out the Shaq singing meme again.

14. “Let’s Dance”
David Bowie
  • Release Date: April 14th, 1983

What is life if you don’t shout “Let’s Dance” at the top of your lungs? One of Bowie’s best in our honest opinion (and that’s saying something).

15. “1999”
Prince
  • Release Date: October 27th, 1982

Right before the Purple Rain era, Prince had us partying like it was 1999. In fact, we’re still partying like “1999” to this day.

16. “Always Something There to Remind Me”
Naked Eyes
  • Release Date: October 10th, 1982

Those hypnotic 1980s synthesizers have never failed anyone, and they definitely didn’t fail Naked Eyes when they put out “Always Something There to Remind Me.” Also, shoutout to Burt Bacharach for the songwriting.

17. “True”
Spandau Ballet
  • Release Date: April 15th, 1983

Those of us who grew up in the 2000s got our introduction to this song via Sky High. Can only imagine what it was like hearing it for the first time in the 1980s.

19. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”
Cyndi Lauper
  • Release Date: Late 1983

What else can we say? Cyndi Lauper was absolutely correct—girls really do just want to have fun.

20. “Cruel Summer”
Bananarama
  • Release Date: June 27th, 1982

When we say this song get stuck in your head…it get’s stuck in your head.

21. “Thriller”
Michael Jackson
  • Release Date: November 1983 (U.K.)

Don’t worry. We’ve got something special coming for “Thriller” the song later on this year, but for now…”Thriller.” Nothing else needs to be said here.

22. “Never Gonna Let You Go”
Sérgio Mendes
  • Release Date: April 1983

An iconic slow jam from the early 1980s. Sérgio Mendes did his thing with this one.

23. “Candy Girl”
New Edition

Aww. A young New Edition. “Candy Girl” is the jam.

24. “99 Luftballoons”
Nena
  • Release Date: March 1983

The beat drop on this track will always be freakin iconic. Do you hear us? Freakin iconic.

25. “Between the Sheets”
The Isley Brothers
  • Release Date: April 24th, 1983

Wondering where Notorious B.I.G. got “Big Poppa” from? Here ya go. This is music strictly for the grown folks.

76 more great songs from 1983:
  • “China Girl” by David Bowie
  • “Don’t Let it End” by Styx
  • “Burning Down the House” by Talking Heads
  • “Far From Over” by Frank Stallone
  • “She Blinded Me With Science” by Thomas Dolby
“Uptown Girl”
Billie Joel
  • Release Date: September 29th, 1983

All together now. “Uptown girl. She’s been living in her uptown world. I bet she’s never had a backstreet guy. I bet her momma never told her why.” There goes the Shaq meme again.

  • “Shaking Hell” by Sonic Youth
  • “Transformer Man” by Neil Young
  • “Overkill” by Men at Work
  • “Dead Giveaway” by Shalamar
  • “Try Again” by Champagne
“All Night Long” (All Night)
Lionel Richie
  • Release Date: August 31st, 1983

Party, Karamu, Fiesta, forever. We’re still partying to Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long” 40 years later.

  • “Jeopardy” by Gregg Kihn
  • “Sunday Bloody Sunday” by U2
  • “In the Mood” by Robert Plant
  • “Come Dancing” by The Kinks
  • “Get the Balance Right” – Depeche Mode
“Hungry Like the Wolf”
Duran Duran
  • Release Date: December 3rd, 1982 (U.S. re-release)

Does “Hungry Like the Wolf” remind anyone else of the movie Big Fat Liar? You know the scene where Paul Giamatti’s character is dancing before he jumps into the pool full of blue dye? Come on, we know you remember it.

  • “Juicy Fruit” by Mtume
  • “Time Will Reveal” by Debarge
  • “Cold Blooded” by Rick James
  • “I Need You” by The Pointer Sisters
  • “Choosey Lover” by The Isley Brothers
“Ain’t Nobody”
Chaka Khan
  • Release Date: November 4th, 1983

Another one of them feel good R&B joints from the early 80s. This time by the legendary Chaka Khan.

  • “Shame on the Moon” by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
  • “Electric Avenue” by Eddy Grant
  • “Africa” by Toto
  • “You Are” by Lionel Richie
  • “Mickey” by Toni Basil
  • “You Can’t Hurry Love” by Phil Collins
  • “Gloria” by Laura Branigan
  • “Allentown” by Billie Joel
  • “Dirty Laundry” by Don Henley
  • “Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye
“Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Michael Jackson
  • Release Date: May 8th, 1983

Too high to get over. Too low to get under. You’re stuck in the middle. And the pain is thunder. “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ has so many quotables it’s not even funny.

  • “Our house” by Madness
  • “Promises, Promises” by Naked Eyes
  • “Heartbreaker” by Dionne Warwick
  • “Fall in Love With Me” by Earth, Wind & Fire
  • “Pass the Dutchie” by Musical Youth
  • “You Got Lucky” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
  • “Affair of the Heart” by Rick Springfield
  • “Goodie Two-Shoes” by Adam Ant
  • “She’s a Beauty” by The Tubes
“Love is a Battlefield”
Pat Benatar
  • Release Date: September 12th, 1983

We are young. Heartache to heartache we stand. No promises, no demands. Love is a battle field.

  • “Rock of Ages” by Def Leppard
  • “The Girl is Mine” by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney
  • “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” by Laura Branigan
  • “Straight From the Heart” by Bryan Adams
  • “I’ll Tumble for Ya” by Culture Club
  • “Don’t Cry” by Asia
  • “Islands in the Stream” by Dolly Parton
  • “They Don’t Know” by Tracey Ullman
  • “White Lines (Don’t Do It)”
“Automatic”
The Pointer Sisters
  • Released: Late 1983

The Pointer Sisters were some talented girlies that deserve all their dues and credits.

  • “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John
  • “Hot Girls in Love” by Loverboy
  • “The Other Guy” by Little River Band
  • “Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes
  • “Legs” by ZZ Top
  • “Just Be Good to Me” by The S.O.S. Band
  • “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson
  • “Party Train” by The Gap Band
  • “Too Shy” by Kajagoogoo
“Let the Music Play”
Shannon
  • Released: September 19th, 1983

A certified 1980s club banger that still goes hard till this day.

  • “All Night Long” by The Mary Jane Girls
  • “Is There Something I Should Know” by Duran Duran
  • “Rock the Casbah” by The Clash
  • “Make Love Out of Nothing at All” by Air Supply
  • “(She’s) Sexy + 17” by Stray Cats
  • “Knockout” by Margie Joseph
  • “Bottom’s Up” by The Chi-Lites
  • “Red Red Wine” by UB40
  • “Dance Hall Days” by Wang Chung
  • “Saved by Zero” by The Fixx
“I’ve Got a Rock ‘n’ Roll Heart”
Eric Clapton
  • Released: January 1983

An all-time track by the all-time great Eric Clapton.

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Music

EST Gee Puts A Spotlight On Louisville With New Record Label and Mixtape

Who could’ve imagined a decade or two ago that Louisville, KY would be a hub for fire hip-hop and R&B? As Louisville native EST Marti puts it, “We didn’t really have a music scene growing up. It was just what you seen on TV and shit. That’s all we ever had.” Luckily, things change. Nowadays with the likes of Bryson Tiller, Jack Harlow, Vory and EST Gee garnering mainstream success, it’s difficult to overlook this part of the country’s impact on genres outside of country music. Aware of all of the talent in his hometown,  platinum rapper EST Gee is making it his business to put the spotlight on who in Louisville is up next.

For those unaware of what EST represents, it’s simple: Everybody Shines Together, a fitting title for Geeski and his crew. To put on for his city in an impactful way, EST Gee partnered with legendary record executive Todd Moscowitz’s music startup Santa Anna to create the Young Shiners label.

The record label’s OG roster is a squad of emerging Gee-cosigned rappers fresh out of Louisville. The current Young Shiners lineup consists of EST Marti, EST SkiMike, EST Lu Mike, EST Lil Zoski and EST DonWon. 

Santa Anna/Sony Music

“It’s giving hope to people that’s from our city that never broke into the music industry, never thought about it,” says EST Gee. He also points out how the camaraderie among the Young Shiners crew can provide some motivation.

“They see that they can do it- they can work together and don’t have to go against each other to get to the top,” says Gee.

The EST crew’s first project, the recently released Shiners Are Forever is a 12-song compilation offering a glimpse at what Louisville’s rap scene has to offer. Showcasing everything from their skills to their swagger, the EST members show out all throughout the project that features appearances from Lil Baby and Lil Jairmy. Shiners Are Forever’s first single, “Disrespect” features a solo performance from EST SkiMike. 

The crew love among the EST team runs deep. Several members go way back. “We been knowing each other since we was kids,” confirms Gee, Marti and SkiMike. The gang first connected as kids playing football and after all that time are still locked in as a unit. “We were like 8 or 9 [years-old], won the championship and been winning ever since,” the “5500 Degrees” rapper continues.

Shiners Are Forever is the second project of 2023 from EST Gee. Back in March, he dropped off MAD, a 14-track tape featuring collaborations with Boosie Badazz and Young Scooter. He’s also appeared on recent albums from Kodak Black, Rylo Rodriguez, J. Cole’s Dreamville, Lil Baby and Future.

Who other than EST Gee could properly introduce the world to what the streets of Louisville, KY sound and feel like? Not only has the Louisville slugger been letting us know he’s one of the realest out. He’s also been a shining example of turning tragedy into triumph and providing a platform for others to shine. With his new Young Shiners record label and rap collective, EST Gee is trying to create something for the next generation and his city. 

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Gaming

The 18 Best Racing Games on Xbox One

best racing games on xbox one

You may not be able to take the wheel behind the Mercedes-AMG One or go for a joyride in the Porsche 911 GT2 RS in real life. But at least you can enjoy driving across digital open roads in those top-tier vehicles and so much more during extended play sessions of the best modern-day racing games. Now if you happen to have an Xbox One in your collection, then you already realize there is a wide swatch of quality racers available on the console. And as expected, those titles deliver top-notch racing thrills in the form of simulation and arcade games across all types of vehicle disciplines. If you’re fully prepared to hit the road in all types of sports, rally, kart, and F1 cars, then refer to this list below to check out the 18 best racing games on Xbox One.

RELATED: The 28 Best Racing Games of All Time

Best Racing Games on Xbox One
Xbox Game Studios

1. ‘Forza Motorsport 7’

700+ cars – that’s the huge array of vehicles you can look forward to hitting high speeds in for this impressive iteration of Xbox’s premiere racing simulation series. Forza Motorsport 7 looks just as good, sounds just as good, and plays just as good as PlayStation’s latest entry in the Gran Turismo series, so you’ll get the same sense of satisfaction from its brand of realistic racing. Racing under dynamic weather conditions and being able to customize your driver also offer some cool gameplay additions that make Forza Motorsport 7 a destination pick for Xbox One racing game fans.

Buy Now, $60.79
https://amzn.to/3q0tJ1M
2. ’Forza Horizon 5’

If you’d rather play something that gives you more freedom when it comes to open-world exploration in a custom ride, then slide on over to the fifth entry in the Forza Horizon series. This latest batch of fast and furious racing in a beautiful location during a festival is centered in a world patterned after Mexico. While you’re racing, you’ll find yourself basking in the sights and sounds of an active volcano, jungles, beaches, and so much more. The weather system plays a huge part in how you’ll progress, by the way – seasonal changes will play a part in how the roads are affected, which in turn will impact your racing performance. You’ll get your money’s worth with this one (those “Horizon Arcade” minigames are worth the price of admission all by themselves!).

Buy Now, $44.99
https://amzn.to/3Y3LCcO
3. ‘Assetto Corsa Competizione’

The official video game representative for the GT World Challenge provides another sim racer that’s just as realistic as its contemporaries. The real-world drivers, teams, cars, and circuits from that franchise are brought to life in Assetto Corsa Competizione and afford the game that much-needed air of authenticity. When it comes to best-in-class racing with a realistic visual and mechanical feel, this racer hits on all the right notes for genre hobbyists. The big things (the weight of each vehicle and the physics engine) and the little things (the look/behavior of doors and windshield wipers) are given equal attention here, proving how much this game pushes for the highest levels of realism.

Buy Now, $19.08
https://amzn.to/44EKkqX
4. ‘F1 22’

Codemasters and EA Sports are the ultimate force when it comes to putting out the finest racing games on the market, so it should be no surprise that one of its releases gets a mention on this list. F1 22 hits the road running with top-notch open-wheel single-seater formula racing. And that signature style of on-road competition comes with a tracklist with real-world ties to the 2022 Formula One World Championship. Formula One sprints also make their debut in this game, which presents another cool way to simulate the high-speed sport of rally racing. And from a visual standpoint, the hyperrealistic cars look, sound, and feel amazing.

Download Now, $59.99
https://amzn.to/3DrZMLa
5. ‘Hot Wheels Unleashed’

Before this Hot Wheels-inspired racer arrived, fans had gotten used to the fact that games of only mediocre quality were all they could look forward to for those miniature cars. That sentiment quickly changed when those same fans got their hands on this quaint arcade racing game. Hot Wheels Unleashed encapsulates everything we loved about those miniature collectible cars back in the day – this game is jam-packed with signature cars that you’ll recognize from the toy line and several media properties and tracks that take place across those recognizable orange lanes within home-based locations. And as expected, each race you’ll compete in will push you to the limit as you zoom across each track and do your best to avoid flinging yourself off the side of the road. You can create your own death-defying tracks that evoke that daredevil feeling for other players, by the way!

Buy Now, $19.99
https://amzn.to/3DpCtBA
6. ‘WRC 10’

We got another sim racer that proudly represents a real-world racing circuit, folks! WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship aka WRC 10 is the officially playable representative of the real-world 2021 World Rally Championship. Anyone who follows the exciting competitions from that racing league can digitally compete in them with the best cars on the best tracks. The rallies that debuted during the 2021 competition (which include Estonia, Croatia, Belgium, and Spain) are available for play here. Plus you’ll get to hop into some races across classic rallies that encompass Acropolis, San Remo, Germany. and Argentina. Enjoy the scenic routes as you utilize 20 of the finest offroad-enabled automobiles from the likes of Subaru, Ford, Mitsubishi, and more.

Buy Now, $36.
https://amzn.to/3QaClNV
7. ‘Wreckfest’

The unmatched levels of chaos that games like Destruction Derby and FlatOut have produced in the past were missing for a good while…until this game revisited that style of racing. The best and most recent way to get caught up in all that car-smashing bedlam is through our latest list entry, Wreckfest. While the actual races here are a good time, it’s this game’s bevy of vehicular combat-focused sessions that provide the most fun. The perfect marriage between clearly visible car damage and an excellent physics system is what makes Wreckfest a destination for gearheads that live for plentiful levels of vehicular destruction.

Buy Now, $99.99
https://amzn.to/3O4rUcc
8. ‘Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered’

Ask a Need for Speed fan which series entry has stood the test of time the most and they just might mention Hot Pursuit. If you missed out on the original version of the ultimate cops and robbers simulator, then you’re in luck because there’s a remastered edition worth checking out. “Seacrest County” contains all the speed-limit-breaking bedlam that regularly breaks out across this game’s offering of racing and police chases. Playing as a racer or a police officer means having two equally dope portions of the game’s epic single-player campaign to sink one’s teeth into. We also gotta give this game major kudos for its “Autolog” system and how it constantly egged us on to beat our online friends’ racing completion times.

Buy Now, $19.93
https://amzn.to/43FbQmQ
9. ‘MotoGP 22’

Motorcycle enthusiasts actually have some decent options to get caught up in when it comes to quality games. In the case of this next pick, we recommended it with the utmost confidence. MotoGP 22, which looks incredibly lifelike and presents the most realistic sound and feel of motorcycle racing, is a must-play. What’s great about this game’s single-player content suite is how it gives historians the chance to play out the events of the legendary Grand Prix of the 2009 season. You’ll also get to compete across everything featured in the 2022 season’s real-world 120+ riders and 20+ official circuits, so you have plenty of motorcycle action to bask in here. Fans of two-wheelers should prep themselves for greatness in another one of the best racing games for Xbox One.

Download Now, $49.99
https://amzn.to/3OqNucd
10. ‘Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled’

What was once a PS1 exclusive ended up getting fully remastered and ported to non-PlayStation consoles. Spreading all that kart-racing goodness around was a smart move by Activision and Beenox! Since Mario Kart totally isn’t a thing on Xbox One, the next best thing is this latest pick on our list. Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled features a plentiful lineup of characters, power-ups, and courses from the original game and its sequels, Crash Nitro Kart and Crash Tag Team Racing. You’ll never get bored causing headaches for other players on the track and drifting/boosting your way to first place. The wealth of content available here (a story mode, kart customization, battle modes, etc.) is simply a blessing.

Buy Now, $27.92
https://amzn.to/46YXwbP
11. ‘DiRT Rally 2.0’

We’re sure the lot of you enjoy some dirty and fast-paced rallying and rallycross racing from time to time. DiRT Rally 2.0 actually offers one of the better ways to experience those types of off-road competitions in video game form. Across Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Spain, and the US, you’ll carve your way through iconic rally courses with 50+ rally cars. The handling feel for this game is as legit as it gets, so you’ll really feel like you’re shredding through the dirt every time you hit the track. Hardcore car tuning, rally team building, and highly competitive local/online racing are all featured in this top-tier DiRT series entry.

Buy Now, $32
https://amzn.to/3KdtF5E
12. ‘Burnout Paradise Remastered’

Back in 2008, developer Criterion Games moved out of its comfort zone a bit with its latest Burnout game. And in the process, it ended up producing one of the greatest open-world racing games of all time. That game arrived in the form of Burnout Paradise, which successfully brought together the explosive car crashes and breakneck speed of the series with the new digital playground called “Paradise City.” All sorts of local/online races, a day and night cycle, the inclusion of motorcycles, and the addition of “Big Sur Island” turned this racer into the ultimate package for arcade racing game fans. This remastered re-release comes with every bit of that content and a crispier visual sheen that makes it worth replaying or checking it out for the very first time.

Buy Now, $18.49
https://amzn.to/3KdtCXw
13. ‘Slipstream’

The racers that littered the 80s and 90s arcades have inspired a new crop of games that revisit the pixelated visuals and upbeat tunes of those classic games. We’re set to acknowledge one of them right now for our list of the best racing games on Xbox One and it’s called Slipstream. The OutRun vibes are clearly in place here as you hop into five different car models and take to the streets across 20 international locales. Tight turns and high speeds definitely come into play here. Plus the bevy of varied modes you can play here (six in total!), local four-player option, and extensive graphical customization options Splitstream offers will make you feel all nostalgic for the 2D racers of the past.

Download Now, $9.99
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/slipstream/9n71466mx1sn
14. ‘Project CARS 2’

Slightly Mad Studios have dropped three installments in the simulation racing-focused Project CARS series. In our humble opinion, the one that deserves the majority of your time and energy is the second one. Project CARS 2 includes a bunch of automobile disciplines – the one that made its debut here is off-road driving. And when you consider the rest of this game’s content suite, you’ll be more than satisfied with everything it provides you – 140 track layouts at 60 different locations and 189 cars at your disposal sounds amazing, right? The refined handling makes this sequel feel even better than its predecessor, so you’ll have an easier time ruling the roads in this one.

Buy Now, $44.18
https://amzn.to/43DiASy
15. ‘Inertial Drift’

Now imagine Slipstream but with hella neon-colored locales and an electronic music soundtrack that keeps the good grooves going while you hit the highest of speeds. So Inertial Drift marries the best parts of arcade racers like Outrun and Ridge Racer to present an enticing experience that racing fans will fall in love with after just one play session. What’s so unique about this racer is its twin-stick control scheme, which lets you steer your car with the left analog stick and drift to your heart’s content with the right analog stick. The game’s gorgeous art style and supremely satisfying tunes that play while you race will also appeal to you with this pick.

Download Now, $19.99
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/inertial-drift/9pf7z089sj6n
16. ‘Hotshot Racing’

Here’s another racer that’ll send you back to the good old days of 3D arcade racers that Sega used to put out on the regular! So what we have here is the hyperfast attack on the senses known as Hotshot Racing. which will instantly take you back to back to the glory of Sega’s Daytona USA. And that’s because of the overall feel for this retro-stylized racer that feels just like that goated arcade great. Throwback visuals, tight drifting, and an exciting soundtrack come together to produce a package that 90s gamer babies will get a ton of mileage out of. Be sure to pick up this game’s “Big Boss Bundle” DLC since it comes with more goodies in the form of tense races littered with explosive barrels and even more racetracks. You’ve probably realized by now how much we love retro-inspired racers on this list of the best racing games on Xbox One!

Download Now, $19.99
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/hotshot-racing/c11hcjpqfhh7
17. ‘Pacer’

Futuristic racing games owe their thanks to the Wipeout series. And for this latest pick on our list of the best racing games on Xbox One, we’re going out of our way to put you on to one of those types of games. Pacer has grown from its more humble beginnings into a feature-rich game with a striking visual palette and some of the slickest inclusion of anti-gravity racing you’ll ever play. 14 tracks, five types of customizable “Craft” vehicles, a whole arsenal of weapons that can wipe out the competition, and a bumping EDM soundtrack are guaranteed to grab your attention here.

Download Now, $39.99
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/pacer/9nphbkrt1q9v
18. ‘Horizon Chase Turbo’

Now let’s bring this list of the best racing games on Xbox One to a close by highlighting a game that wouldn’t look out of place in an arcade during the 90s golden era! For fans of OutRun and Top Gear, Horizon Chase Turbo was specifically made for you. Its simple premise of racing across an open road while straightaway roads segue into tight turns will keep you entertained for hours on end. And just like the previously mentioned Hotshot Racing, Horizon Chase Turbo brings back the best elements of the 80s and 90s golden age arcade racers with an extremely catchy soundtrack and brightly-colored tracks that set the mood just right. The old-school vibes will please you greatly here, trust us on that one!

Download Now, $19.99
https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/horizon-chase-turbo/BV3FZP8HC2T5
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