Posts made in July 2022

Quavo × Takeoff

Delivering the kind of Atlanta anthem that moves the whole culture, multiplatinum GRAMMY® Award-nominated superstars Quavo and Takeoff unleash a blockbuster new single and music video entitled “Us Vs Them” featuring Gucci Mane—available today via Quality Control Music Group/Motown Records. Listen to “Us Vs Them” HERE and watch the music video for “Us Vs Them” HERE.

The track pairs a skittering trap bounce with unforgettable sirens. It sets the stage for Quavo and Takeoff to lock into an unbreakable and unbeatable lyrical volley highlighted by hilarious observations such as “Came from nothing, now my Lambo look like dolphin fins.” It all builds towards the victorious chant, “Fuck that other shit, I’m going for the win.” Meanwhile, Atlanta hip-hop legend Gucci Mane pulls up with a powerhouse verse of his own. The accompanying visual alternates between scenes in a parking garage and on a basketball court as fireworks rain from the ceiling, popping off with uncontainable energy.

It arrives on the heels of “Hotel Lobby.” The latter has already generated 22.8 million YouTube views on the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas-inspired music video and 39.6 million Spotify streams and counting. Earning critical acclaim right out of the gate, Billboard proclaimed, “‘Hotel Lobby’ impresses with a natural camaraderie that the members demonstrated on their early mixtapes, as Takeoff handles the denser flow and Quavo gleefully punctuating every fifth word with another ad-lib.” Not to mention, the duo performed it as part of A COLORS SHOW, posting up 1.3 million Spotify streams and 3.3 million YouTube views on the video as the first in a series celebrating Black Music Month created in collaboration with Motown Records.

However, this is just the beginning for Quavo and Takeoff…

Takeoff recently dropped off “Crypto” with Rich The Kid. It has already amassed over 8.4 million Spotify streams and 6 million YouTube views on the music video. Receiving critical acclaim, HYPEBEAST proclaimed, “the new single sees the Migos rapper embrace his love for cryptocurrency and the fortune that it has brought him.”

Meanwhile, Quavo served up the intense “Shooters Inside My Crib.” It posted up 8.6 million Spotify streams and 7.8 million YouTube views on the music video. Touted among the “Soundsystem 50,” High Snobiety observed, “Quavo skates over the Ayo-B-produced beat effortlessly teasing us about an upcoming project.” REVOLT added, “‘Shooters Inside My Crib’sees the North Atlanta star harmonizing about past struggles and current successes.” Sports Illustrated summed it up best as “an absolute banger.” Not to mention, he joined NBA2K22 as a playable character and will star in a new action thriller Takeover.

Be on the lookout for more soon!

IMAGINE DRAGONS – NIGHT VISIONS

IMAGINE DRAGONS CELEBRATE 10^th ANNIVERSARY OF LANDMARK DEBUT ALBUM WITH NIGHT VISIONS (EXPANDED EDITION) ON SEPTEMBER 9

INCLUDES TWO NEVER-BEFORE-HEARD DEMOS – “LOVE OF MINE” & “BUBBLE”

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER IN PHYSICAL & SUPER DELUXE FORMATS

Commemorating a major milestone, GRAMMY®-winning, multi-Platinum band Imagine Dragons will celebrate the 10^th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut LP with Night Visions (Expanded Edition) (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope/UMe) on September 9, 2022. It notably boasts nine additional studio tracks and two previously unreleased songs recorded contemporaneously entitled “Love of Mine” and “Bubble.” The Expanded Edition will be available at all DSPs and in physical formats— 2-LP (which boasts the original cover art plus a 10^th-anniversary cover art lithograph), 2-CD, or 2-Cassette. An exclusive limited-edition, canary-yellow 2-LP vinyl of the Expanded Edition will also be available.

The Super Deluxe Edition consists of 4 CDs + 1 DVD (Original Album, Bonus Tracks, Night Visions Live, Remixes, and The Making of Night Visions on DVD) and much more.

Pre-order the Expanded Edition—HERE. Pre-order the Super Deluxe Edition—HERE.

The seven-times platinum Night Visions first arrived on September 4, 2012, paving the way for a bold new future for rock music. It bowed at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and yielded some of the most impactful, inimitable, and inescapable anthems of the last decade. It has impressively eclipsed over 20 million in global consumption, while the diamond-certified Hot 100 Top 3 smash “Radioactive” (14x-platinum) garnered a GRAMMY® Award nod in the category of “Best Rock Performance” out of two nominations, including “Record of the Year.” The record also occupied a spot on the Billboard Top 200 for 408 weeks.

Certified platinum or multi-platinum in 15 countries, Night Visions comprises the aforementioned “Radioactive,” diamond-certified “Demons” (10x-platinum), “It’s Time” (6x-platinum), “On Top Of The World” (4x-platinum), “Bleeding Out” (platinum), “Amsterdam” (platinum), and “Hear Me” (gold).

Experience the ultimate configuration of Night Visions this fall.

Check out the full tracklisting for Night Visions (Expanded Edition) below.

CD1

Radioactive
Tiptoe
It’s Time
Demons
On Top Of The World
Amsterdam
Hear Me
Every Night
Bleeding Out
Underdog
Nothing Left To Say / Rocks

CD2

Cha-Ching (Till We Grow Older)
Working Man
My Fault
Round And Round
The River
America
Selene
Fallen
Cover Up
Love of Mine (Demo)
Bubble (Demo)

Imagine Dragons recently made history again. “Thunder” achieved a diamond certification, enshrining the quartet as “The First Band/Group in Music History to Achieve FOUR Diamond Singles.” Meanwhile, their new double-disc opus Mercury — Acts 1 & 2 (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope) bowed at #12 on the Billboard Top 200 and earned some of the best reviews of the band’s career to date. Rolling Stone attested, “Imagine Dragons still know how to efficiently stomp stadiums into rubble,” and American Songwriter hailed it as “a celebration of life.” Consequence of Sound applauded, “Act II is an even more intimate gesture that further explores themes of loss and recovery,” and The Associated Press summed it up best as “the sound of a band getting its arena groove back.”

The 32-track epic album debuted on Friday, July 1^st, and marks the boldest artistic statement of the band’s career thus far. Executive produced by Rick Rubin, the double album includes hit singles “Enemy,” “Bones,” and “Sharks” and expands on 2021’s Mercury — Act 1. While Act 1 explores themes such as love, faith, pain, passion, and loss, Act 2 focuses on sorting through personal loss and the biggest existential questions of their career.

Listen to Mercury — Acts 1 & 2 HERE. Target is also offering an exclusive CD featuring an alternative cover and extra track, available HERE.

To bring both halves of the record to life on stage, Imagine Dragons will take to the road and kick off a massive US stadium tour that will begin in August, making stops in Boston, Toronto, and their hometown of Las Vegas before wrapping up in Los Angeles, CA in September. The summer tour marks the band’s biggest North American shows of their career. Check out the full itinerary HERE.

About Imagine Dragons

With over 66 million album equivalents and 55 million digital songs sold, not to mention over 110 billion combined streams, Imagine Dragons are one of rock’s biggest bands of the past decade, and they’ve fully reinvented the genre in that time. In short, they own Billboard’s Top 3 rock songs of the 2010s — “Believer,” “Thunder,” and “Radioactive.” Formed in 2009, Imagine Dragons developed a grassroots following with a series of independent EPs before making their major-label debut on KIDinaKORNER/Interscope with 2012’s Continued Silence EP. That same year, their LP debut NIGHT VISIONS entered the Billboard 200 at No. 2, while lead track “Radioactive” topped Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs, won a GRAMMY® for Best Rock Performance, and achieved RIAA Diamond status. After achieving their first #1 at Alt Radio with “Radioactive,” the band immediately repeated this feat with “Demons,” marking the first back-to-back #1’s for the band, with both songs in the Top 5 simultaneously. NIGHT VISIONS is now 7x platinum in the US alone. 2015’s platinum-selling Smoke + Mirrors debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The 3x platinum-selling album EVOLVE followed in 2017, earning a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album and unleashing three No. 1 Alternative radio hits: “Believer,” GRAMMY®-nominated “Thunder,” and “Whatever It Takes.” All three songs were also top 5 hits at Alternative radio. “Believer” was the quickest song to reach #1 for Imagine Dragons, taking only 8 weeks to reach the top of the charts, with “Thunder” following closely in its rise to the #1 spot. With these singles, it marked the second time Imagine Dragons had back-to-back #1s, making Imagine Dragons one of only four bands to ever achieve simultaneous Top 5 singles and the only band to repeat this feat. The band’s fourth album and platinum-selling, ORIGINS, debuted atop Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, while its lead single “Natural” spent nine weeks at No. 1 at alternative radio.

For their fifth studio album—Imagine Dragons’ first new music since 2018—the band teamed up with esteemed producer Rick Rubin. 2021’s Mercury — Act 1 debuted in the Billboard 200 top 10 and at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Alternative Albums and Top Rock Albums charts. It also launched the singles “Wrecked,” “Cutthroat,” and “Follow You,” with the latter reaching No. 1 on both Mediabase’s Alternative Radio and Billboard’s Alternative Airplay charts. “Follow You” marked the band’s quickest ascent to the top of that Billboard chart, surpassing the respective seven- and eight-week climbs for “Natural” (2018) and “Believer” (2017). Then came “Enemy.” Originally released as the theme to Netflix’s Arcane, the hit racked up more than 4.6 billion combined global streams across two versions (including a collaboration with GRAMMY®-nominated, Atlanta-based rapper J.I.D), helping make Imagine Dragons the highest streaming American band in the US in 2021. In 2022, they expanded the world of Mercury with a double album, Mercury – Acts 1 & 2, including the single “Bones,” which has gathered over 380 million streams to date, and the accompanying music video has scored 38 million-plus YouTube views. Sorting through personal loss and the biggest existential questions of their career, singer/songwriter Dan Reynolds says the two-part release is about learning to “accept the unknown” and “let go,” healing feelings Imagine Dragons are hoping to share with fans as they embark on some of their biggest shows ever this summer.

Gucci Resort

Forever exploring its long-held legacy in travel, a constant source of inspiration within every collection, the House presents an ode to the seasonal ritual of setting off to seaside locales. The Gucci Resort Collection features a selection of items unique to the world’s top travel destinations, transforming the vacation wardrobe into a colorful travelogue. Bags, sunglasses, hats, and beach blankets make up the exclusive local product offers, while the ready-to-wear and shoes will be available across all resort locations as well as on Gucci.com.

At the center of the special selection is the GG monogram, reimagined with a zig-zag-patterned background and with vibrant color combinations unique to the specific warm-weather havens where they are exclusively sold. The cities featured within the collection include Bondi, Bodrum, Cancun, Cannes, Capri, Dubai, Forte dei Marmi, the Hamptons, Hawaii, Ibiza, Jeju, Marbella, Miami, Monte Carlo, Mykonos, Okinawa, Palm Desert, Porto Cervo, Phuket, and Rio de Janeiro. Inscribed with the name of the city that inspired the palette, each item becomes a travel memento, denoting the expansive narrative of an individual’s journey.

To present the product selection in a surreal and playful way, photographer and director Max Siedentopf has captured a campaign where the Gucci Resort pieces take on monumental status in mini dioramas of the various resort destinations. Tote bags and sunglasses become part of the landscape, while beach-goers bring larger-than-life energy to the frozen-in-time scenes—a reminder that unexpected stories are still to be discovered even in the most familiar destinations.

The collection will be distributed through designated stores and on Gucci.com. Additionally, at the resort destinations, special Pop-Ups inspired by beachside cabanas will also showcase an exclusive product offering.

#GucciResort

Creative Director: Alessandro Michele

Art Director and Photographer: Max Siedentopf

Make up: Camilla Romagnoli

Hair: Andrea Martinelli

Product Details

The Gucci Resort Collection features a wide range of products, creating a colorful getaway wardrobe.

The women’s ready-to-wear selection presents a variety of day dresses including cotton sangallo styles and printed muslin gowns enriched with colorful lace details. Perfect to pack, matching sets of GG tweed or GG chevron add an elegant yet relaxed feel. Swimsuits in a variety of styles come in bright hues, including a tie-dye print one-piece defined by a palm tree and the Gucci logo. As a part of the exclusive destination offer, T-shirts, sweatshirts, and shorts feature the names of select cities.

The men’s ready-to-wear is defined by lightweight knitwear and linen jackets, as well as patterned button-downs and tie-dyed T-shirts and sweatshirts—all in seasonal hues. There is also a full selection of denim shirts, shorts, and pants featuring playfully embroidered patches.

The handbag selection sees a reimagination of the GG monogram, with a zigzag pattern reinforcing its bold energy. Emblazoned across lined raffia-effect totes, beauty cases, and mini bags, each palette variation is unique to the resort destination and features a leather label identifying which city inspired the design. Select places will also present unlined raffia tote bags.

Offered worldwide, the Resort shoe selection features styles envisioned for holidays spent by the sea. Whether donning a flat or platform sole, espadrilles show off the colorful GG monogram woven from a raffia-effect material. The product selection also includes a number of women’s raffia-effect sandals with a flower-like design. The men’s collection features GG monogrammed espadrilles and Gucci Tennis 1977 sneakers in colorful prints.

Completing the array of items envisioned for the seaside, beach blankets, as well as raffia-effect bucket and baseball hats also showcase the regionally exclusive combinations of hues of the Resort GG monogram design. A selection of crochet hats is available worldwide.

A selection of destinations including Cannes, Capri, Forte dei Marmi, the Hamptons, Ibiza, Marbella, Mykonos, Porto Cervo, and Rio de Janeiro will also introduce new color variations of signature Gucci Eyewear styles in acetate or combi constructions, available in the international fitting. Characterized by a Summery and colorful spirit, each design features the name of the city it was inspired by.

About Gucci

Founded in Florence, Italy, in 1921, Gucci is one of the world’s leading luxury brands, led by President and CEO Marco Bizzarri and Creative Director Alessandro Michele. Following the House’s centenary, Gucci forges ahead into the next hundred years, continuing to redefine luxury while celebrating the creativity, Italian craftsmanship, and innovation at the core of its values. Gucci is part of the global luxury group Kering, which manages the development of a series of renowned Houses in fashion, leather goods, jewelry and watches. Discover more about Gucci at www.gucci.com.

Louis Vuitton – Summer Stardust

Louis Vuitton’s Summer Stardust is a collection derived from star motifs, breezy ready-to-wear, and iridescent bags. The ready-to-wear offering includes lightweight apparel and beachwear with poolside accessories like a monogram bucket hat and towel to coordinate.

Maison’s most beloved bag shapes in six new styles unique to the collection, featuring two new Stardust Capucines which glimmer in the sunlight to create an iridescent effect.

About Louis Vuitton

Since 1854, Louis Vuitton has brought unique designs to the world, combining innovation with style, always aiming for the finest quality and preserving biodiversity. Today, the House remains faithful to the spirit of its founder, Louis Vuitton, who invented a genuine “Art of Travel” through luggage, bags and accessories which were as creative as they were elegant and practical. Since then, audacity has shaped the story of Louis Vuitton. Faithful to its heritage, Louis Vuitton has opened its doors to architects, artists and designers across the years, all the while developing disciplines such as ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories,watches, jewelry, and fragrance. These carefully created products are testament to Louis Vuitton’s commitment to fine craftsmanship.

For further information: www.louisvuitton.com

Louis Vuitton women's poolside accessories via 360 MAGAZINE

Louis Vuitton Monogram

A true testament to its impeccable Savoir Faire, Louis Vuitton unveils a colorful summer collection of men’s Monogram bags perfect for the seasonal getaway. The selection builds upon the success of Virgil Abloh’s S-Lock Signature and the Taurillon Monogram Leather- a constant on the men’s runway.

For this season, the Monogram Macassar and Taurillon Monogram bags feature a distinctive color palette of orange, purple, and mint green- an ongoing tribute to the late Creative Director’s colorful rainbow and energizing universe. New to the leather goods category: a sleek briefcase, crossbody wallet, two new sizes of the Keepall 25, a smaller Christopher Backpack, variations on the S-Lock Messenger, and S-Lock Sling bags.

About Louis Vuitton

For further information: www.louisvuitton.com

MAXIM × SNOWCRASH × CRYTO.COM

MAXIM OF PIONEERING ELECTRONIC ACT THE PRODIGY (AKA VISUAL ARTIST MM) TO RELEASE THE LEPIDOPTERROR COLLECTION

NFT COLLECTION FEATURING 888 STILL IMAGES OF FOUR DIFFERENT BUTTERFLIES TO RELEASE JULY 27 ON CRYPTO.COM NFT IN COLLABORATION WITH SNOWCRASH

Lepidoptera is an order of insects that includes butterflies. For the “Lepidopterror Collection” from contemporary British artist MAXIM, also known as MM (Double M), beautiful butterflies are mixed with skulls and deadly weapons that will be released as an NFT curated collection via Crypto.com/NFT in collaboration with innovative NFT platform Snowcrash on Wednesday, July 27.

Well known for his outstanding paintings, sculptures and ceramics, Maxim often uses a mixture of sinister and beautiful images. This collection features 888 still images of four categories of butterflies, in varianting quantities. There are 50 Royal Butterflies, 50 Warrior Butterflies, and 50 Worker Butterflies. The remaining 738 butterflies are Citizens. They all belong to the eldest family of butterflies, the Lepidopterrors, and have their role to play in defending the magical Golden Pollen from the Clown Wasps.

Maxim’s musical background in The Prodigy (the pioneering electronic music group that has smashed genre perceptions for more than two decades) has helped feed his wider art practice. It is witnessed in pieces that are always based in a surreal world, inspired by special effects creator Ray Harryhausen and artists H.R. Giger, MC Escher, and Hieronymus Bosch. At the heart of his approach is a love and appreciation of freedom. “The one thing I’ve learned about art is there aren’t really mistakes in art, are there?” he shares.

These butterflies were first conceptualized by Maxim in 2009 after he recalled a childhood memory of an advertisement that showed a young girl running through a cornfield, waving a net as she tried to catch an elegant butterfly. He thought to himself, “What would it be like if I armed that butterfly?” The butterfly is seen as a frail and gentle creature. He wanted to give it the ability and strength to defend itself.

That is how the butterfly rebellion was born. Maxim took this inspiration and produced a collection of artworks entitled “Lepidopterror.” In collaboration with Snowcrash and Crypto.com/NFT, he is taking these pieces into the metaverse and creating NFTs, which he sees as a natural progression for this collection.

The Story:

A long time ago, a child from one of the eldest butterfly families, the Lepidopterrors, found a source of magical Golden Pollen. The child consumed some of the pollen and, in an instant, all of his worries and ailments vanished into thin air. Realizing the healing powers of the pollen, the child told this to his family, the leaders of the Lepidopterrors, the Royals. They decided that the Golden Pollen had to be protected from their enemies, the Clown Wasps, to ensure that enough of the pollen was always available to heal the sick.

As a result, some of the Lepidopterrors were trained to become Warrior Butterflies, to protect the Royals and their Workers and Citizens from the vicious Clown Wasps. The Warriors are highly respected, but that doesn’t mean the Workers and Citizens have less important roles to play. The Worker Butterflies actually collect the Golden Pollen and bring it to the center of their home where it’s safest.

The Citizens are the largest portion of the Lepidopterror community. They are either too old to work and fight or they are too young to choose a path as a worker or warrior. They help take care of the larvae and caterpillars as they become ready to enter their chrysalises to transform into butterflies. The butterflies all display a side of strength regardless of their circumstance.

About MM:

Hailing from Cambridgeshire, U.K., Maxim has been a creative artist since 2002 after he was inspired to create artwork to hang in his home. Since 2012, he has displayed his mixed media artworks in various exhibitions around the world. He is self-taught and has been known to use many different random objects in his work: spray paints, bullets, blades, and pills to name a few. His artistic images have also been used on fine bone china crockery embellished with 24ct gold. He uses acrylic and ceramic paints along with anything he can get his hands on that will add to the texture of his work. Often his pieces are finished with resin which he feels gives a certain beauty and preciseness to the images, keeping them locked and untouchable behind the resin. Paintings are a journey into MM’s mind and have a surreal edge that takes you somewhere deep into his imagination. Certain pieces show rebellion and the rise of the underdog and the weak. All of MM’s paintings contain signs of strength and positivity while putting a “spin on things” and seeing them from different angles. Grenades carried on the breeze by a raft of red balloons; skull-faced butterflies brandishing Samurai swords, and gun-toting cats are just a few of the surreal fantasy worlds created by MM.

In May 2021, MM collaborated with mixed-media artist Dan Pearce on the powerful and poignant, pandemic Hope project, which included the launch of 50 limited edition sculptures, an exclusive, four-track MM EP as well as the release of an accompanying short film, featuring MM, his new music and starring Pearce’s son, to tell the story behind the pair’s sculpture. Since 2012 MM has supported various charities and donated artwork to raise money for research into Breast Cancer, BT ArtBox for ChildLine, Shelter, NHS Charities Together, Young Minds, and Chain of Hope (cardiac care for children around the world). MM continues to work relentlessly and is now planning exhibitions that will take place in the last quarter of 2022.

As a founding member of world-renowned explosive dance music band, The Prodigy, Maxim is widely associated with the band’s fierce lyrics and vibrant sense of style in videos, explosive live shows and genre-defying hits like “Smack My Bitch Up” and “Firestarter.” He is also known as a solo artist, producer and DJ. He currently lives and works in Essex, United Kingdom.

About the project:

“Maxim is an extraordinary musician and fine artist from the fury of the Prodigy to now these incredible weapon-wielding butterflies,” shares Snowcrach co-founder Jesse Dylan. “Crypto.com is an acknowledged leader in the web3 space and we are thrilled to collaborate on this.”

“I am very excited about my upcoming Lepidopterror NFT Drop,” says Maxim. “I previously released NFTs as a collaboration with two other artist friends, but this is my first solo NFT drop and I can’t wait for it to be released. I am thrilled to be working with the Snowcrash Team as we have forged a great partnership.”

About Snowcrash:

Launched on March 2, 2022, Snowcrash is a web3 studio that empowers leading artists, publishers, and brands to build community, value, and ownership with NFTs in the web3 ecosystem. It includes a digital creative studio, marketing services, a curated exchange platform, licensing / IP management, and web3 engineering capabilities. Look for NFTs from cultural icons like Bob Dylan and Miles Davis to be announced later in 2022.

About Crypto.com NFT

Crypto.com NFT is a carefully curated platform for collecting and trading non-fungible tokens by creators, celebrities and brands from the worlds of art, design, entertainment, sports and fashion — including the Aston Martin Formula One Team, BossLogic, Boy George, Lega Serie A, Lionel Richie, Mr. Brainwash, Snoop Dogg and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), among many other high-profile artists and clients. Crypto.com NFT was founded on a principle of sustainability, with artworks minted using a proof-of-stake model, and is powered by Crypto.com.

MARVEL – THUNDERBOLTS

THE THUNDERBOLTS STRIKE DOWN ON THE MARVEL UNIVERSE WITH A NEW MISSION, A NEW LINEUP, AND A NEW COMIC SERIES!

Check out all the covers and a first look of THUNDERBOLTS #1, the new series by Jib Zub and Sean Izaakse hitting stands August 31

In the wake of DEVIL’S REIGN, super heroes have been outlawed in New York City but starting next month, a new team of authorized super heroes will assemble in THUNDERBOLTS #1! The five-issue limited series will be written by former THUNDERBOLTS scribe Jim Zub and drawn by artist Sean Izaakse, known for his recent work on Fantastic Four: Life Story. In the classic Thunderbolts tradition, Zub and Izaakse will introduce an unexpected lineup that mixes together iconic Marvel super heroes, fan-favorite breakout stars, conflicted anti-heroes, and exciting newcomers. Carefully selected by Mayor Luke Cage to bring justice like lightning throughout his city, the new team will led by Hawkeye and include Spectrum, America Chavez, Power Man, and Kara Killgrave, AKA Persuasion. Also joining this ragtag squad be new two new recruits: mystery man and experienced supersoldier Gutsen Glory, and debuting in issue #2, a strange creature known as Eegro the Unbreakable. The team’s first mission will be taking down Kingpin’s own corrupt Thunderbolts that wreaked havoc throughout the DEVIL’S REIGN saga and restoring the team’s name in an action-packed brawl you won’t want to miss!

“A lot of times people will look at a cast of characters and say, ‘This team lineup is different so this isn’t the team I want,’ but, it’s like you said, the Thunderbolts have gone through so many iterations. There have been incarnations where they’re purely criminal, others where they’re criminals trying to be heroes, and everything in between, but I’ve always felt like, at their heart, the Thunderbolts are a team struggling for redemption,” Zub said about the new roster in an interview with CBR. “Individual members and the team as a whole struggled to dig themselves out of their worst selves or resist the natural pull of who they’ve been in the past. So, for me, redemption is the heart of the Thunderbolts concept.”

Be there for the all-new era of THUNDERBOLTS on August 31! For more information, visit HERE.

Retailers, don’t forget to order your copies of THUNDERBOLTS #1 by Monday, August 1!

Cover B by DAVID NAKAYAMA

ULYSSE NARDIN – GREAT WHITE

WITH THE NEW DIVER CHRONOGRAPH “GREAT WHITE” 44MM LIMITED EDITION, SAFEGUARDING A FUTURE FOR SHARKS BECOMES ULYSSE NARDIN’S TOP PRIORITY.

In honour of Shark Week and celebrating the launch of its new DIVER CHRONO GREAT WHITE, the Swiss watchmaking Maison raises its devotion to shark conservation around the world to the next level. Ulysse Nardin – a brand that has always had sharks on its radar – proudly announces its increasing support of a new fleet of shark conservation initiatives and partners:

Donating 1% FOR THE PLANET, pledging to donate 1% of annual sales of all “shark watches” to support non-profit organizations focused on sharks.
Partnering with SHARK TRUST, the leading European shark conservation charity actively working to reform unsustainable and unmanaged fisheries and the supply chain that drive the global consumption of shark products, through legislation and effective conservation actions.
And adding a new friend of the brand to the family – a new “Ulysses”- MIKE COOTS, a Hawaii native who became an amputee when he lost his right leg in a tiger shark attack at 18 years old while bodyboarding. Mike soon realized the importance of preservation and has since become an advocate for saving sharks in an effort to maintain balance in the ecosystem.

Celebrating its new community of “shark” friends and partners including world-renown shark experts, divers, universities, and non-profits, Ulysse Nardin unveils a stunning, shark-themed limited edition of the 44 mm DIVER chrono.

Eyes on!

Shark week – With their status as the apex predators of the sea and as a largely misunderstood species of marine life, sharks are the avatars and cherished icons of Ulysse Nardin. These majestic top predators are essential to the natural order of marine ecosystems. Currently their most severe menace is from overfishing and many species are threatened with extinction. Sharks have been an irreplaceable resource for coastal communities in the developing world for centuries. Currently, this unique balance is in danger of being lost forever. Ulysse Nardin is dedicated to the conservation of sharks, one of the emblems of the iconic Swiss watch manufacturer.

A quick Shark retrospective at Ulysse Nardin:

2010 The very first Ulysse Nardin DIVER Hammerhead shark watch was created.

2018 The shark becomes a Ulysse Nardin emblem and the brand’s advertising campaign signature.

2018 Launch of the DIVER GREAT WHITE watch, rapidly sold-out.

2019 Launch of the DIVER BLUE SHARK model.

2020 The brand starts a SHARK TAGGING campaign with non-invasive techniques thanks to its partnership with the Acores University and the work of free diver Fred Buyle and PhD Doctor Jorge Fontes.

2020 Ulysse Nardin partners with the US based OCEARCH organization, a fascinating, shark-tracking app. Ocearch aims to share knowledge about “the links between shark, human and environmental health.”

2020 A young adult female Great White was caught and tagged off the coast of Massachusetts and named Andromache becoming ULYSSE NARDIN’s first official shark ambassador. She can be tracked through OCEARCH. HERE

2021 Launch of the DIVER LEMON SHARK timepiece with the Florida International University.

2022 The latest edition to the Ulysse Nardin’s diver collection, the DIVER CHRONOGRAPH GREAT WHITE comes to the surface in titanium and withstands 300 meters depth, in a limited edition of 300 pieces.

2022 The brand partners with SHARKTRUST, 1% FOR THE PLANET and MI.

DIVER CHRONOGRAPH 44MM GREAT WHITE

LIMITED EDITION

The new Diver 44mm chronograph is encapsulated in a sandblasted and satin-finish titanium case and displays a white, unidirectional, rotating, rubberized bezel. A contemporary and functional model designed specifically for the deep, it is a technical marvel fitted with the Caliber UN-150 self-winding movement; the watch works thanks to revolutionary Silicium technology, pioneered by Ulysse Nardin at its headquarters in Le Locle, Switzerland. It features a 30-minute counter, a 12-hour counter and a small second counter with date, escapement wheel, anchor & balance spring in Sicilicum. Touches of blue and white decorate the grey dial. The lettering “GREAT WHITE” appears below the Ulysse Nardin logo. And the silhouette of the animal is the key signature of the white rubber strap – while the grey of the dial is reminiscent of shark skin. The concave bezel with a domed sapphire glass creates a sleek look designed for those who consider exploring the depths of the ocean a personal challenge. Engineered to withstand 300-meter depth, the new diver watch is designed to inhabit the undersea environment right alongside its namesake. The Diver Chronograph 44mm Limited Edition Great White follows a long tradition of shark-named diver watches including a women’s Great White Diver launched in 2019. It is available in a limited series of just 300 pieces. 1% of the revenues from sales of this watch will be donated to the planet to support via non-profit organizations focused on sharks.

ABOUT 1% FOR THE PLANET

1% for the Planet is a global organization that exists to ensure that our planet and future generations thrive. We inspire businesses and individuals to support environmental non-profits through membership and everyday actions. We make environmental giving easy and effective through partnership advising, impact storytelling and third-party certification. Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of BlueRibbon Flies, to date our business members and individual members have given hundreds of millions of dollars to our approved non-profit partners. Today, 1% for the Planet’s global network consists of thousands of businesses, individuals and environmental non-profits working toward a better future for all. Look for our logo to purchase for the planet, learn more, and join HERE.

ABOUT SHARK TRUST

The Shark Trust is the leading UK-based shark conservation charity. They work globally to safeguard the future of sharks and rays through positive change. The primary challenge in shark conservation is overfishing – addressing unsustainable and unmanaged fisheries. And the supply chains that drive the global consumption of shark products. A recent review documented that 1/3 of the 1200 shark and ray species are now classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List – the primary cause being the effects of overfishing. The global abundance of oceanic sharks and rays (those living on the high seas) has declined 71% over the last 50 years, primarily due to overfishing. The Shark Trust works actively to reform fisheries – both domestically and on the high seas – pushing for sustainable management and science-based catch limits. HERE

About Ulysse Nardin – Manufacture of Freedom

Ulysse Nardin is the Manufacture inspired by the Ocean, producing advanced timepieces for explorers in pursuit of freedom.

Founded by Mr. Ulysse Nardin in 1846, the company owes its reputation to its links with the sea: its onboard marine chronometers are among the most award-winning and reliable ever designed.

A pioneer in innovative technologies and the use of high-tech materials such as silicium, Ulysse Nardin is one of the few integrated manufactures with the in-house expertise to produce its own high-precision components and movements. In 2001, the Maison changed the face of contemporary watchmaking by launching the first Freak.

To underscore its commitment to its favourite environment, Ulysse Nardin is active in supporting the preservation of the Ocean, focusing on two major areas: encouraging upcycling to reduce marine plastic pollution and developing scientific knowledge concerning the preservation of the sharks, its emblem.

Today, in the Swiss towns of Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds, Ulysse Nardin remains devoted to its quest for watchmaking perfection in four collections: Marine, Diver, Blast and Freak.

As of 2022, Ulysse Nardin and sister Maison Girard-Perregaux have formed an independent collective of high horology Manufactures.

JORDY – IDK SH!T

JORDY RELEASES NEW SINGLE IDK SH!T AHEAD OF LOLLAPALOOZA DEBUT THIS WEEKEND

LISTEN HERE | WATCH THE COMPANION MUSIC VIDEO TO FIND OUT WHICH JORDY ARE YOU?

Rising pop artist JORDY has released his new single IDK SH!T, available now on all streaming platforms. Chronicling the challenges of young adulthood during his twenties, the offering is a bubbly, diaristic pop track showcasing JORDY‘s impressive falsetto and knack at crafting anthemic hooks. Produced by frequent collaborator Drew Polovick, the song arrives just in time for JORDY‘s hometown debut at Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago this weekend, where he will be playing two performances on Thursday, 7/28 (6:30 pm @ Bud Light Seltzer Stage) and Friday, 7/29 (12:45 pm @ T-Mobile Stage). The accompanying IDK SH!T music video is also out today. Directed by Queerty Award-winning filmmaker Assaad Yacoub, it features various JORDY characters on a dating show, prompting fans to ask, Which JORDY are you?

I remember being a kid and thinking about what it would be like to be an adult: The freedoms, the knowledge, and the experience. Everything about it sounded so cool, but here we are, three years away from turning 30 and I still feel like a child, JORDY explained about the song’s inspiration. I feel like life lately has been cycles of calling my parents begging for answers: How do taxes work? How do you jump start a car? Should I be further ahead in my career? How do I find love? The list goes on, but sometimes, they don’t even have the answers. I want to normalize this feeling of not having it together because truthfully, nobody fully does. It’s important to remember that in moments when you’re being hard on yourself, he added.

Mining inspiration from pop staples such as The Spice Girls, Michelle Branch, Avril Lavigne, and contemporaries such as Troye Sivan and Lauv, JORDY‘s songs blend the glimmering, bouncy 90s pop sound with sincere, vulnerable, and conversational songwriting. He unveiled his debut album Mind Games in November 2021, along with a companion acoustic EP in February, and Pride anthem Dry Spell earlier this summer, which Teen Vogue called a bright new single made for the dance floor, while Billboard lauded it one of his best produced tracks to date.

JORDY‘s heart-on-his-sleeve approach to modern pop music has resonated with fans nationwide, resulting in 100M+ career streams, sold out shows across the U.S., and a devoted following on TikTok with his 2021 dance-pop hit Long Distance that went viral on the platform in 2021. JORDY delivered a stellar performance of the track during his national television debut on The TODAY Show, and earlier this year, he nabbed a nomination at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in the Social Star category.

JORDY is in the studio working on his sophomore project, with more details to be revealed soon.

JORDY IDK SH!T: AVAILABLE HERE

FOLLOW JORDY:

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK

What Are Probiotics and What Are Their Benefits?

You’ve probably heard the terms prebiotics and probiotics quite a lot in the last few years. They’re two of the current buzzwords in the health and wellness industry and lots of new prebiotic and probiotic supplements companies are appearing every year.

The probiotics industry is growing rapidly and is now worth over $37 billion USD. Millions of consumers now take regular probiotics to improve their overall health and well-being.

The research around probiotics is relatively new so we are still learning lots more about them. Despite the research being in its early days, we’re already starting to notice the many incredible benefits of probiotics.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics refer to the live bacteria that are commonly found in certain foods such as yogurt, kefir, soybeans, tofu, tempeh, sauerkraut, and kombucha tea. Probiotic microorganisms feed off prebiotic fibers, which are found in many plant-based foods.

The most common probiotic microorganisms are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, Lactococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus, and these microbial species are closely associated with good health.

Taking Probiotic Supplements

Although many foods contain probiotic bacteria, you may not consume very many of them in your diet. If you want to gain the maximum benefits from probiotics, you can take probiotic supplements.

Whether you’re keen on taking probiotics for weight loss or you want to see if they can reduce your digestive discomfort, there are lots of different kinds of probiotics. As great as they can be, it’s important to do some research and find the best products for your needs.

You can get probiotics that have been specifically created for certain gut health issues as well. For example, you may find probiotics for IBS, or supplements to reduce bloating.

What Are the Benefits of Probiotics?

Probiotics are labelled as the resolution for any gut health issue. While they are incredible for your digestive health, their benefits go far beyond the gut.

Probiotics may also help with the management of chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. They can even boost your mood thanks to the close connection between the gut and brain.

Let’s take a closer look at the many benefits of probiotics.

Improved Gut Health

One of the most widely recognized benefits of probiotics is the ability to improve gut health. Probiotic foods and supplements contain live bacteria that are beneficial for your digestive system.

When you ingest probiotic foods or supplements, it helps to diversify the different bacterial species in your gut. More specifically, it increases the number of beneficial species and lowers the levels of potentially harmful microorganisms.

Many studies show that consuming probiotic foods or taking probiotic supplements can minimize gut health issues and relieve digestive discomfort. They can benefit those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), constipation, and diarrhoea.

The effectiveness of probiotics depends on the strains of bacteria in the food or supplement, and what gut health issue you’re trying to resolve. That’s why choosing the right probiotic species for your needs is important.

Better Mental Health

There is a close link between the health of your gut microbiome and your overall well-being. When the ‘bad’ bacteria outbalance the beneficial bacteria in your gut, it can lead to disease. Poor gut health is thought to play a role in obesity, allergies, and a range of mental health conditions.

The gut-brain axis is a real thing and more researchers are becoming interested in the strong connection between these two areas of your body. Both animal and human studies have shown that increasing your consumption of probiotics may improve a range of mental health conditions.

Specifically, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacterial strains were effective in treating depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and autism. They also improved spatial and non-spatial memory.

Improved Immune Function

Probiotics are able to modulate some of the natural immune functions inside your body. This helps to protect you from harmful pathogens and can reduce the severity of autoimmune conditions, such as allergies, eczema, Crohn’s disease, and dermatitis.

It’s thought that certain probiotics species may improve immunity by:

Increasing the production of antimicrobial substances in the body
Inhibiting bacterial toxin production
Prevent harmful pathogens from entering the body through the gut wall
Improving the antibacterial effects of bile salts inside the body
Inducing an immune response against bacterial and viral pathogens
Inhibiting autoimmune and allergic reactions
Enhancing white blood cells (macrophage and lymphocyte) and cytokine production