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Your Weekend Playlist: New Music Releases

Our longest Weekend Playlist yet!

I don't know what's happening this week, but you may have picked up that every living, breathing artist is releasing new music. Seriously, name a heavy hitter in the industry and they're probably dropping a new song on August 25. Miley Cyrus, Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, and more will grace our sound systems soon enough.

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Culture News

The Real Problem with Iggy Azalea's Blackfishing Scandal

Iggy Azalea's "I Am the Stripclub" video controversy is not just about her

Iggy?

Iggy Azalea has been accused of Blackfishing … is anyone surprised?

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Culture Feature

Why Do People Hate Awkwafina?

The line between cultural appropriation and appreciation is fuzzy, but Awkwafina's unprecedented success as an Asian-American woman should be celebrated.

By DFree

Nora Lum, AKA Awkwafina, has blown up in recent years.

After maneuvering YouTube fame — with viral hits like "My Vag" — into a comedic rap career, her over-the-top persona was adapted into breakout comic-relief roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's Eight in 2018. She followed that up in 2019 by showing off her dramatic chops with a Golden Globe-winning performance in The Farewell.

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CULTURE

Cultural Appropriator Ariana Grande Ironically Sues Forever 21 for "Misappropriating" Her Image

Forever 21 already has a fraught legal history regarding knock-offs and violations of labor laws, in addition to numerous culturally insensitive products. But crossing the "7 Rings" singer may be their most public faux pas yet.

Ariana Grande at the 2018 MET Gala

Photo by Sky Cinema (Shutterstock)

The only thing Ariana Grande and Forever 21 have in common is their love of cultural appropriation. But now it seems that Forever 21 has culturally appropriated Ariana Grande, and she's pissed.

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MUSIC

Gemma Laurence's "Crooked Heart" Shines New Light On Old Sounds

The singer-songwriter draws from folk and Americana roots to craft an unusually delicate debut.

Press Photo

Gemma Laurence's Crooked Heart takes its title from a line in a W. H. Auden poem—"You shall love your crooked neighbor / with your crooked heart."

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Music Monday

MUSIC MONDAY | Jacob Plant’s “Amnesia” is a Song You Won’t Soon Forget

The UK DJ and producer collaborates with James Newman for smooth vocals over mind-blowing melodies and perfect percussion.

THE MIX | A step back into summer before fall freezes us out

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