About VAUGHN LOWERY

Vaughn Lowery is a native of Detroit and the youngest of five siblings, a graduate of Cornell University's ILR School. Core duties: global diversification strategy, production management, and ecological implementation. The grandson of the late civil rights defender and recipient of the presidential medal of freedom, Joseph Lowery. Lastly, a distinguished member of the Alpha Phi Alphi Fraternity, Incorporated (Alpha Chapter).

Avril + BeatBox

Avril Lavigne Partners w/ RTD BeatBox on New Flavor – Pink Lemonade.

Punk Rock Princess and philanthropist, Avril Lavigne, is best known for her highly coveted career: 8 GRAMMY nods, 10 Juno Awards, 6 World Music Awards and 21 MTV Awards.

However, this time around the multiplatinum selling artist has been recognized by adult beverage BeatBox. Avril is among the few global icons whom were chosen by the brand to participate in the Creator Series. A platform that grants them an opportunity to curate a flavor alongside of packaging; and, then distributed through their channels.

The ‘world’s tastiest party punch’ will box Lavigne’s 11.1% ABV pink lemonade to be sold nationwide: 7-Eleven, Kroger, Circle K, Casey’s, and QuikTrip.

“From the moment Avril told our team how she drinks a BeatBox before every studio session we knew this was a perfect fit for our growing Creator Series. The BeatBox Creator Series is where we partner with world renowned musicians like Avril Lavigne, as well as other large influencers and brands, to bring exciting new flavors and collectible packaging to our 45,000+ retail locations,” says Zech Francis, VP of Global Marketing for BeatBox. “Partnering with Avril is going to unlock even more exciting opportunities for BeatBox as one of the fastest growing ready-to-drink cocktail brands in the US.”

Lastly, consumers and fans of Avril, at their preferred merchant, will be able enter a contest. Winners may receive exclusive signed merchandise and/or an opportunity to meet Lavigne in person.

So stay tuned, where BeatBox is sold, for life-size custom Avril cutouts to take part in this activation.

About BeatBox

BeatBox is one of the fastest growing premix cocktails on social media. Their 6 million followers are largely credited to their expansive calendar of events, including more than 100 music festivals.

Metro Boomin + Spider-Man

GRAMMY® Award-nominated diamond-certified superstar producer Metro Boomin continues his legacy in the comic and film universe with the release of METRO BOOMIN PRESENTS SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE SOUNDTRACK FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE MOTION PICTURE which he Executive Produced.

Metro has assembled a cast of musical superheroes for the upcoming soundtrack including 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky, Coi Leray, Don Toliver, Future, James Blake, Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Wayne, Nas, Nav, Offset, Swae Lee, Wizkid and more.

Stream the soundtrack HERE via Republic Records. Sony Pictures Animation’s SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE opens in theaters everywhere today. Watch the latest film trailer HERE

The soundtrack marks Metro’s first foray into film soundtracks although his love of film and comic superheroes has long been on display. Of the collaboration, Spring Aspers, President of Music,Sony Pictures said “The concept for the next installment of Miles’ story demanded a contemporary and culturally significant musical collaborator. Metro Boomin was clearly the perfect cultural voice to sculpt the musical environment to support this amazing next chapter.”

Dana Sano, EVP Film & TV Republic Records, commented: “Metro Boomin is a true visionary who continues to raise the bar. For the Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack, Metro curated and delivered with fierce passion and integrity. Republic is thrilled and honored to be reteaming with the filmmakers and our amazing partners at Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group”.

Previews of the soundtrack music was heard in a Hyundai Motor and Spider-Man™: Across the Spider-Verse animated TV commercial that was released last month as well as teasers from Coi Leray and Metro himself.

Continuing a tradition of blockbuster soundtracks for the Spider-Verse, the record follows on the heels of 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack from & Inspired by the Motion Picture). It notably bowed at #2 on the Billboard 200 and reached double-platinum status as the year’s biggest soundtrack album and has gone on to exceed 10 BILLION streams and is now certified 2x platinum. Not to mention, it spawned Post Malone’s “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)” [with Swae Lee], which reached 18x-platinum diamond status as “the most-certified single of all time!”

METRO BOOMIN PRESENTS SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE SOUNDTRACK FROM AND INSPIRED BY THE MOTION PICTURE Tracklist:
1. Metro Boomin & Swae Lee, Lil Wayne, Offset “Annihilate – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
2. Metro Boomin & A$AP Rocky, Roisee “Am I Dreaming”
3. Metro Boomin & Future, Lil Uzi Vert “All The Way Live – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
4. Offset & JID “Danger (Spider)”
5. Metro Boomin & James Blake “Hummingbird”
6. Metro Boomin & Swae Lee, Nav, feat. A Boogie Wit da Hoodie “Calling – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
7. EI8HT & Offset “Silk & Cologne (Spider-Verse Remix)”
8. Metro Boomin & Don Toliver, Wizkid feat. BEAM & Toian “Link Up (Spider-Verse Remix) – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
9. Metro Boomin & Coi Leray “Self Love – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
10. Metro Boomin & Don Toliver, Lil Uzi Vert “Home”
11. Metro Boomin & James Blake, A$AP Rocky, 21 Savage “Nonviolent Communication”
12. Don Toliver & 21 Savage, 2 Chainz “Givin’ Up (Not The One)”
13. Metro Boomin & Nas “Nas Morales”

About Metro Boomin
Since 2013, GRAMMY® Award-nominated diamond-certified producer, DJ, and artist Metro Boomin has defined not only the sound, but the direction of hip-hop. With dozens of smashes to his name, his unmatched, unprecedented, and undeniable discography encompasses the quintuple-platinum “Jumpman” by Drake and Future, quadruple-platinum “Bad and Boujee” [feat. Lil Uzi Vert] by Migos, 14x Platinum “Congratulations” [feat. Quavo] by Post Malone, 9x Platinum “Mask Off” by Future, 6x Platinum “Bounce Back” by Big Sean, and many more. Working with The Weeknd, he co-produced the Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit “Heartless” and contributed three more tracks to the chart-dominating 2020 epic After Hours. Along the way, he also joined forces with 21 Savage for the 2016 blockbuster Savage Mode and its even bigger 2020 successor Savage Mode II—which bowed at #1 on the Billboard 200, went gold, and closed out the year on multiple year-end lists. Other knockout collaborative albums included Double or Nothing with Big Sean and Without Warning with Offset and 21 Savage, both of which crashed the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. In 2018, he unleashed his full-length solo debut, Not All Heroes Wear Capes, seizing #1 on the Billboard 200 upon release, reaching platinum status. The FADER hailed him as “The Most Trusted Guy in Rap,” HIGHSNOBIETY christened this era “The Boom Years,” and The Wall Street Journal dubbed him “The Rap Producer Shaping Pop Music.” Plus, he launched his own record label Boominati Worldwide in partnership with Republic Records.

To date, he has received “Producer of the Year” at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards four consecutive years in a row (he is tied with Kanye West for having the most BMI Producer of the Year awards) and “Producer of the Year” at the BET Hip Hop Awards twice. Continuing a long creative partnership with Drake, he produced Certified Lover Boy’s “Knife Talk” [feat. 21 Savage & Project Pat], debuting in the Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021.

2022 saw him return to the top of the culture with his massively successful second full-length album, HEROES & VILLAINS. It bowed at #1 on the Billboard 200, Top Rap Albums Chart, and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart with the biggest sales week of his career. Meanwhile, it yielded a string of smashes. “Creepin” [feat. The Weeknd & 21 Savage] and “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)” [feat. Future & Chris Brown] each landed in the Top 10 of the Hot 100. It only paves the way for more from Metro.

About Spider-Man™: Across the Spider-Verse
Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga, Spider-Man™: Across the Spider-Verse. After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters the Spider Society, a team of Spider-People charged with protecting the Multiverse’s very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must set out on his own to save those he loves most. Anyone can wear the mask – it’s how you wear it that makes you a hero.

Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson. Written by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller & David Callaham. Based on the MARVEL COMICS. Produced by Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Christina Steinberg. Executive Producers are Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Aditya Sood, and Brian Michael Bendis. The voice cast includes Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Brian Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, Jake Johnson, Jason Schwartzman, Issa Rae, Karan Soni, with Daniel Kaluuya and Oscar Isaac.

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About Republic Records

A division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, Republic Records has been recognized by Billboard as the industry’s #1 label over the last 10 years. It is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Billy Porter, Bo Burnham, Clairo, Coi Leray, Conan Gray, Daddy Yankee, Drake, Eddie Vedder, G Herbo, Glass Animals, Florence + the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack Johnson, James Blake, James Bay, Jessie J, Jimmy Fallon, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Jonas Brothers, Julia Michaels, Kid Cudi, Kim Petras, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Metro Boomin, NAV, Nicki Minaj, Of Monsters and Men, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, Swedish House Mafia, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Twice, TXT, and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings, Boominati Worldwide, Brushfire, Casablanca Records, Cash Money, Federal Films, HYBE, Imperial, JYP, Lava Records, Mercury Records, Republic Records: Kids & Family, Republic Nashville, Universal Arabic Music, Uptown Records, Victor Victor, Wicked Money Family, XO, Young Money, among others.

Web3 Foundation + Sónar Fest

Web3 Foundation Collaborates with Sónar Music Festival to Further Advance Support for Web3 Technology in the Music Industry.

Web3 Foundation, known for its flagship project, Polkadot, to host comprehensive masterclass at Sónar Music Festival in collaboration with Sónar and GUZZU.
This collaboration follows Web3 Foundation successful partnership with GUZZU, Primavera Pro and Polka Häus for content production initiatives at the Web3 Music Summit at Primavera Sound
Masterclass to outline Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO’s) as the future of the Music industry by offering creators a new way to connect, participate and collaborate.
Web3 Foundation’s support for DAO use cases is bolstered by Polkadot’s recent announcement to further decentralize its governance mechanism through “OpenGov”.

Web3 Foundation, whose flagship project is the Polkadot blockchain protocol, in collaboration with Sónar and GUZZU announce their collaboration to host a Web3 Masterclass to further educate, support, and advance Web3 Technology in the Music Industry at Sónar Music Festival. The masterclass will be focused on how decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) offer the music industry including, creators, fans and festivals ways to connect, participate and collaborate. The masterclass will take place on Thursday 15 June at 3pm and will be led by leading members of the ecosystem. Presenters include Ursula O’Kuinghttons, Director of Communications and Partnerships at Web3 Foundation and Arnau Sabaté, CEO and founding partner of GUZZU and their creative studio Vitamin3,

The comprehensive Sónar Web3 Masterclass, presented by blockchain network, Polkadot, and Barelona based web3 music start-up, Guzzu, will dive into the fundamentals of DAOs by exploring case studies and best practices. The Masterclass will introduce festival goers, artists, creators, and innovators in the music industry to the Polkadot protocol, the potential of blockchain technology in creating and distributing musical content, and promote networking with like-minded industry professionals.

Speaking of the collaboration, Arnau Sabaté, CEO of GUZZU said: “Web3 and DAOs will be a crucial part of the music industry’s future. GUZZU is delighted to be able to continue to collaborate with Polkadot and Web3 Foundation with this Sónar masterclass to further help educate the industry on the incredible potential of blockchain technology in the music industry. The collaboration aims to inspire creators to have full ownership over their content and remain the owner of their own work. Artists have become products of the music industry and Web3 technology can offer them tools to take back ownership of their content.”

As part of Web3 Foundations ongoing support of Web3 technology and DAO’s, the Web3 Foundation also welcomes the recent OpenGov update to Polkadot’s governance mechanism.

Speaking on the importance of OpenGov to DAOs, Ursula O’Kuinghttons, Director of Communications and Partnerships at Web3 Foundation, said: “OpenGov represents a significant milestone in Polkadot’s continued efforts towards a truly decentralized, transparent and democratic internet which the Web3 Foundation proudly supports. In many ways Polkadot is now the largest DAO in the world. It serves as proof positive of the potential for decentralized governance to be both effective and inspiring for community involvement and creativity. As the Web3 Foundation continues to collaborate with musicians, fans and organizers across the music industry, we are thrilled to see Polkadot taking concrete steps to build the next internet.”

This year’s Sónar festivals sees the return of Aphex Twin, Black Coffee, Richie Hawtin, DJ Holographic, and Eric Prydz, to the Fira Montjuïc area in Plaça España, alongside other notable names such as BICEP, Peggy Gou, DJ EZ, Eliza Rose, and Honey Dijon.

About Web3 Foundation

Web3 Foundation funds research and development teams building the technology stack of the decentralized web. It was established in Zug, Switzerland by Ethereum co-founder and former chief technology officer Dr. Gavin Wood. Polkadot is the Foundation’s flagship project. For more information, visit web3.foundation

About Polkadot

Polkadot provides the technical advances necessary to make blockchain technology practical, accessible, scalable, interoperable, and future-proof, removing limitations and barriers to entry, and thereby fuelling innovation, growing the decentralized technology space, and bringing the Web3 vision to life.

About Sónar

Sónar, one of the biggest Electronic Dance Music festivals in the world, is a festival dedicated to music, creativity and technology. The festival was founded in Barcelona in 1994 by Ricard Robles, Enric Palau, and Sergi Caballero.

About GUZZU & Vitamin 3

GUZZU is a Web3 community and platform for music creators to experiment and release Digital Merchandise. Based in Barcelona, and founded by a team of music and technology experts with a background of more than 15+ years experience. Our ultimate goal is to foster a more equitable and sustainable music industry for both artists and fans. GUZZU will help to accelerate artist careers in the web3 space through their creators’ token backed launchpad. Vitamin 3 is the GUZZU’s creative-tech studio to help brands and entities to move to the web3 space

HALO SPACE FLIGHT

Frank Stephenson Design (FSD) continues its march into future mobility design with its latest project appointment leading the design and build of an aerospace capsule.

HALO Space is leading the way in the development of a new form of space tourism that takes passengers on a zero-emission journey to the edge of space in a modern capsule that ascends with a stratospheric balloon up to 40 km above Earth. The nomination of Frank Stephenson Design solidifies the design house’s position as a leading global studio across the mobility sphere.

The first commercial flight from HALO Space is currently planned for 2025 and the innovative and lightweight aerospace capsule will be capable of taking up to eight passengers and a capsule pilot on a six-hour journey into the stratosphere where they can witness Earth and space in a way that only astronauts and very few private citizens have done so before.

Frank Stephenson, Founder of Frank Stephenson Design, said: “Frank Stephenson Design is extremely excited to commence this project in partnership with HALO Space and is confident in delivering a stunning, sustainable near-space passenger experience realised through innovative, groundbreaking design. This further cements FSD’s position as leading the future of mobility across land, sea and space.”

Carlos Mira, CEO of HALO Space, said: “The capsule is the centre of the flight experience. It must not only be extremely safe, but also provide the comfort, amenities and technology to allow our passengers to enjoy their space flight to a maximum. It enhances this journey with unique resources, design and technology. Frank Stephenson and his team have accumulated decades of expertise in the design of vehicles that combine the highest standards of quality and luxury, and now join HALO Space to apply all this knowledge to our project.”

As one of the world’s most renowned and influential designers with over thirty years of expertise from world-leading companies including AutoFlight, Archer, Lilium, Ferrari, Maserati and McLaren, BMW and MINI – Frank Stephenson Design is known for a design philosophy that blends art with science, whilst using the latest eco-friendly technology to shape the future of mobility.

This new area of expertise is a big win for the studio and an extremely exciting chapter for Frank Stephenson Design.

FLORIAN KUPFER – ABOUT U

German Berlin-based artist, producer & DJ Florian Kupfer returns to the fold for a double volley of raw, elusive DIY club music on new 12” single ‘About U’, alongside a full-length foray into hypnotic, minimalist analogue electronics on ‘Lifetrax II’, the sequel to his 2013 debut release.

After a period of small-run releases & self-released output, including the introspective, radiant ambient of 2021 album ‘Phantom Pain’, Kupfer realizes a full-circle culmination of the kinetic, roughly refined yet stylistically diverse sensibilities he showcased on his seminal debut, and on subsequent releases for L.I.E.S. Records and Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour.

Now landing on Hugo Capablanca’s Ediciones Capablanca label, Kupfer reasserts where he’s been, and conveys where he’s at, forging aqueous, hazy maneuvers of crisp breaks, fragmentary R&B-inflected vocals, and heavily filtered FX on ‘About U’. Here, locked, cyclical scuffles of broad low-end and fizzing percussion emerge and disperse, reflecting the exhilaration and enervation of an adventurous late-night session, if soundtracked by Rezzett, Theo Parrish and some narcotized edit of Drake. For the flip ‘Replication’, Kupfer turns in a distressed dose of brusque, jack-heavy techno, evoking sinister scenes of pursuit, paranoia, and voyeurism, and recalling L.I.E.S. labelmates like Delroy Edwards and Traxx. An impactful reset from a truly original operator, ‘About U’ signals an emphatic new chapter in Kupfer’s trajectory, elevated further by the cryptic, longform movements and dilations of ‘Lifetrax II’.

Veering from rugged electro & industrial rhythms and fractured noise to disorientating drone and provocative samples of consumerist critique and plundered media, ‘Lifetrax II’ is an ambitious work of crude, outlying dancefloor exhilaration and resonant, enigmatic experimentation. Low-slung, upfront, relentless distillations of EBM and techno, as well as uniquely rendered incursions of electro and industrial music, sit side by side with delirious vignettes of defective drone and noise.

As with Kupfer’s past work, and many of his peers on L.I.E.S, ‘Lifetrax II’ is still ingrained with an intrinsic analogue grit, yet in terms of Kupfer’s own pathway in production, the album represents an adjustment in execution, with an approach that seeks to incorporate deeper, sleeker characteristics. For Kupfer, the album signifies both aesthetic continuity and deviation: ‘As the adage goes, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ And when it comes to the title of my new album, I couldn’t agree more. The title, ‘Lifetrax II’ is the natural sequel to my very first release back in 2013. After much contemplation and reflection, I decided to embrace this title because it just feels right to pick up where I left off in those early days.’

The result is an album defined by personal fulfilment: ‘It’s been a labour of love. It’s taken me some time to digest my initial releases and find my own voice again after moving to Berlin, but the result is something true to my heart. In terms of style, I’ve continued down a minimalist path, but with a richer quality that sets this work apart from my earlier material.’

Consolidating the hi-def atmospheric coherency of ‘Phantom Pain’ with the abidingly abrasive, intoxicating thrust of his initial releases, ‘Lifetrax II’ shifts from brutalist techno rollers (‘Valiant’, ‘Stress Test’) – like Regis on a joyride – to bizarro dub diversions (‘CS II’) and entrancing electro flux (‘Disintegration’, ‘Dereliction’), into the sonorous, screwed interzones of ‘Raphe Nuclei’ and ‘CRS’, where in the case of the latter, a voice recounts the existential implications of playing Monopoly; play the game or be played kids. Altogether, this is music of contrasting volatility and delirium, all masterfully threaded together. Trax of velocity and estrangement, heat and aftermath, made for modern life.

Can you call this a resurgence if Florian Kupfer never really went away? ‘Lifetrax II’ is arguably Kupfer’s most complete statement to date and affirms what some of us always knew; you can never really predict his next move and you can never count him out. Don’t call it a comeback.

‘About U’ is out on 30 June 2023, available as an Ultra Limited, Single-Sided Lathe 12″ Vinyl & on Digital Formats, exclusively on the Ediciones Capablanca Bandcamp page.

‘Lifetrax II’ is out on 7 July 2023, available as a Limited Edition Cassette & on Digital Formats, with Cassette + Merch bundles including an Embroidered Hoodie plus an Embroidered Patch available alongside the Cassette.

Tracklists

‘About U’
01 | About U
02 | Replication

Credits
Mastered by Daniel Kyo
Artwork by Capablanca

Florian Kupfer is a German artist, DJ, and electronic music producer. Throughout his career, he has shown a desire to map distant aesthetic modes. Influenced by his early training in Gregorian chorals, Kupfer has since tangled with analogue noise and rhythmic industrial soundscapes.

In parallel with formidable output on imprints including Ron Morelli’s L.I.E.S., Ninja Tune’s Technicolor, and Willie Burns’ W.T. Records, Kupfer has also explored the more transcendental qualities of sound. Focusing on our relationship with time, affect, memory, repetition, and stasis, Kupfer infuses his approach to improvisational composition with the evolving, tonally rich qualities of contemporary and vintage electronics, drawing on his engineering experience to create compelling, expressive music of warped, imperfect intensity.

Instagram

Bandcamp

Linktr

Photo: Oleksandra Trishyna

AVENGERS INC

AVENGERS INC.! WASP LEADS A NEW TEAM IN SOLVING MYSTERIES AND AVENGING MURDERS!

AVENGERS INC, a stylish new Avengers ongoing series from Al Ewing and Leonard Kirk, launches this September!

60 years ago, Janet Van Dyne stood alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as they assembled for the very first time and named them the AVENGERS! Now, during the team’s milestone anniversary year, she’ll lead them into all-new territory in a brand-new AVENGERS title—AVENGERS INC.!

Debuting in September, this sharp new series will be crafted by two Marvel masterminds: writer Al Ewing and artist Leonard Kirk. Known for taking some of Marvel’s greatest icons into fresh and unexpected directions in titles like Immortal Hulk and Loki: Agent of Asgard, Ewing now delivers that same treatment to the Avengers mythos by blending noir and super hero storytelling for suspenseful adventures unlike any in Avengers history. With acclaimed work in dynamic comic book titles like the pulpy X-Factor and the recent horror-fueled Sabretooth series, Kirk is the perfect artist to mix thrilling Avengers action with tense investigating and super powered sleuthing.

Together, Ewing and Kirk will introduce readers to a whole new style of Avenging. It kicks off with a deadly conspiracy rooted in the ghosts of the Avengers’ past that only founding Avenger Wasp can solve. But she won’t be alone as she finds a new partner in Victor Shade! This former alias of Vision mysteriously resurfaces just as Janet discovers a score of super villain murders. Will he guide Wasp to the truth or is his familiar guise hiding the very clues Janet needs to crack the case? Fans can expect guest stars galore as this pulse-pounding series moves forward. The series will also pack direct connections to the other current Avengers ongoing series, Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa’s Avengers.

Her name is Janet Van Dyne. She’s a hero. She’s a celebrity. She’s hunting a killer. His name is Victor Shade. He’s a villain. He’s an enigma. He just got killed. And together, they’re out to solve every mystery in the Marvel Universe…starting with their own.

“AVENGERS INC. takes the beating, buzzing heart of the original Avengers, teams her up with an undead mystery man with an identity so secret even he doesn’t know it, and sends them both out to solve the most amazing, fantastic and uncanny whodunnits the Marvel Universe has to offer!” Ewing explained. “It’s kind of a classic ‘will-they-won’t-they’ crime-solving partnership – or it would be if the ‘will-they’ in question was ‘save the world from…’ well, that’d be telling. See you in September!”

“I am unsure what can be said of AVENGERS INC. without spoiling anything for the readers. I can say this is a fun and intriguing take on some familiar characters that leans more into detective skills over super strength, wit rather than eye beams and cunning instead of small, genetically mutated, furry creatures,” Kirk added. “Al is doing a bang up job with this and I am having a load of fun. I hope the audience does too.”

See superstar artist Daniel Acuña capture the spirit of the series in the first of his AVENGERS INC. covers and stay tuned for more news about this exciting new Avengers series arriving in September! For more information, visit Marvel.com.

El Alfa – King of Dembow

Acclaimed Dominican artist El Alfa, internationally recognized as the “King of Dembow,” is making a comeback as a standout nominee for Premios Juventud. With three nominations to his name, El Alfa continues to make waves in the music industry and showcase his influence on the dembow genre.

El Alfa has been nominated in the categories of “Best Dembow Song” and “Best Dembow Collaboration” not once but twice. These nominations acknowledge his talent and his ability to create infectious hits that have captured the hearts of audiences, as well as his outstanding contributions to collaborations that have taken the dembow genre to new heights.

The highly anticipated Premios Juventud ceremony will take place on July 20th at the iconic Coliseo de Puerto Rico, one of the most renowned venues for Latin music. The event will be broadcasted by the prestigious Univision network, allowing millions of fans around the world to witness this unprecedented celebration.

In a surprising announcement, El Alfa recently unveiled his concert tour across the United States, debuting with a sold-out show at the emblematic Madison Square Garden. This achievement not only demonstrates the artist’s growing popularity but also his ability to fill stadiums with his infectious energy and unique style.

El Alfa is honored and thrilled by these important nominations, which are a testament to his hard work and dedication to music. His impact on the dembow genre transcends borders and has left an indelible mark on the international music scene.

RED BULL BATALLA

Today, the largest Spanish-language freestyle rap battle in the world, Red Bull Batalla, announces the full list of its 2023 U.S. qualifiers, a group of 48 of the country’s most dynamic lyricists who have been selected to battle it out in this year’s competitions. Now in its fifth season in the U.S., Red Bull Batalla will host 3 qualifier events this summer—in Los Angeles, Houston, and Miami—as well as the U.S. National Final in Dallas on November 11. The U.S. champion, as well as champions from other Spanish-speaking countries in South America and Europe, will then compete in the Red Bull Batalla World Finals, coming to Colombia for the second time in December.

This Year’s U.S. Competitors

Red Bull Batalla has selected the top Spanish-language freestyle MCs from every pocket of the U.S. to compete for glory this summer. Rappers who made the cut for 2023 include past Red Bull Batalla U.S. National Champions Yartzi (‘19 and ‘20) and Reverse (‘21), while the reigning 2022 U.S. champ, Oner, will receive an automatic bidto the Colombia World Final to compete alongside this year’s champ. Other notable names in the qualifier field include the return of San Diego’s own Santa Mykah, the first female qualifier in the U.S., as well as on-the-rise newcomers Zeu (El Salvador), Crown (Orlando) and Lies (Houston). Fans will also recognize battle veterans such as Boss, OG Frases andformer World Champion Link_One in the mix. A full list of qualifiers can be found below.

Red Bull Batalla Qualifiers: July 15, August 12 and August 26

The qualifier phase will pit these ferocious freestyle talents in 1v1 battles taking place across qualifier events in Los Angeles on July 15, Houston on August 12, and Miami on August 26. MCs will go round-for-round showcasing their most impressive bars in hopes of advancing to the next round and ultimately securing one of the top slots at their qualifier, allowing them the chance to move on and compete in the U.S. Final to chase the 2023 National Champion title in Dallas on November 11.

The panel of judges across the 3 qualifiers will include former Red Bull Batalla Mexico National Champion Lobo, longtime California scene icon Chester, and RioLoz from heavyweight L.A. freestyle crew Coast Contra. Racso White Lion, the dynamic co-host from last year’s U.S. Final in Miami, will return to host all 3 qualifiers, pairing with local figureheads in each city’s freestyle scene. In addition to his role as judge, Lobo will take the stage for a performance of his own at each of the qualifier events.

Please find event details for the 3 Red Bull Batalla Qualifier events taking place this summer across the U.S. below:

July 15 – Red Bull Batalla Los Angeles Qualifier

· Venue:Don Quixote

· Hosts:Luigi Zomber & Racso White Lion

· Judges:RioLoz (Coast Contra), Lobo Estepario, Chester

· DJ:Solares

· Tickets: https://RedBullBatallaLA.eventbrite.com

COMPETING MCs

o Maluque (Oxnard, CA)

o Steve (Los Angeles, CA)

o Zkart (Garfield, New Jersey)

o J. Luna (Albuquerque, NM)

o Kcique (Miami, FL)

o OG Frases (Miami, FL)

o Certa (Eugene, NM)

o Girek (Sacramento, CA)

o Dandy (Charlotte, NC)

o Heavy (Miami, FL)

o El Dilema (Brooklyn, New York)

o Pazy (Miami, FL)

o Santa Mykah (San Diego, CA)

o Klaze (Miami, FL)

o Boss (Los Angeles, CA)

o Reverse (Orlando, FL

August 12 – Red Bull Batalla Houston Qualifier

· Venue: Metropolis

· Host: Fluffy the Host & Racso White Lion

· Judges: Barba, Lobo Estepario, Chester

· DJ: DJ Lobo

· Tickets: http://BatallaHTX.Eventbrite.com

COMPETING MCs

o Izes (Orlando, FL)

o Lies (Houston, TX)

o Pailot (Atlanta, GA)

o ROBLE (Las Vegas, NV)

o Macías (Colorado Springs, CO)

o Magimbri (San Antonio, TX)

o Montgomery (Brownsville, TX)

o Métricoh Flowster (New York City, NY)

o 4ASES (Denver, CO)

o GIO (Houston, TX)

o ESTANY (Kingwood, TX)

o White Caracas (Houston, TX)

o PiPØ (Sarasota, FL)

o Jordi (Austin, TX)

o Mauro Mc (New York City, NY)

o Micky Ricon (San Antonio, TX)

August 26 – Red Bull Batalla Miami Qualifier

· Venue: Skatebird

· Host: Sonja La Makina & Racso White Lion

· Judges: Snow, Lobo Estepario, Chester

· DJ: DJ Cesar

· Tickets: https://RedBullBatallaMiami.eventbrite.com

COMPETING MCs

o JD (Miami, FL)

o Link_One (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

o El Domi (Orlando, FL)

o Sourius (Miami, FL)

o Jay_Co “El León” (Yonkers, NY)

o Vnz (Denver, CO)

o BAN2 (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

o AdonysX (Miami, FL)

o Zeu (North Bergen, NJ)

o Knnon (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

o Mike (Grand Rapids, MI)

o Adonys (Copiague long island)

o FREITES (Orlando, FL)

o Crown (Orlando, FL)

o Levi (Miami, FL)

o Yartzi (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

The four semi-finalists who emerge from each summer qualifier event will go on to compete with the three returning finalists from 2022—Nico B, Cuban and MC Betho—for the Red Bull Batalla U.S. Finals on November 11 in Dallas. With all eyes on the action from the Lone Star State, 16 hopefuls will become one as the 2023 U.S. Red Bull Batalla National Champion is crowned, punching their ticket to Colombia to represent the U.S. at the Red Bull Batalla World Final. To stay updated on details for the Red Bull Batalla U.S. Finals, click here.

ABOUT RED BULL BATALLA

Red Bull Batalla is a global freestyle rap competition that, since 2005, has provided a platform for the best hip-hop improvisors in the Spanish-speaking world to connect, develop and compete. After going virtual due to the pandemic, Red Bull Batalla’s 2020 International Final was the most-watched live music event of the year (source). Last December, the 2022 International Final was hosted at the historic Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City where Mexico’s national champion Aczino made history as the competition’s first-ever triple World Champion. You can relive the intensity of Aczino’s historic third world title win on ViX. To experience additional 2022 highlights, visit Red Bull Batalla on YouTube and Red Bull TV. For photos from Red Bull Batalla, head over to Red Bull Content Pool.

CONNECT WITH RED BULL BATALLA

Follow and stay up to date with Red Bull Batalla:

Facebook: @RedBullBatalla

Instagram: @redbullbatalla

YouTube: @RedBullBatalla

TikTok: @redbullbatalla

Twitter: @redbullbatalla

Website: redbullbatalla.com

Create Your Own Happiness

For Better Mental + Physical Health

Dr. David Heber, MD, Author, Chairman of the Herbalife Nutrition Institute and Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board Member

An overwhelming ninety percent of American adults consider mental health a crisis in the United States, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and CNN. Around the globe, people are coveting access to resources that can help them achieve better mental health and start their journey towards finding inner peace. And as people strive for better mental health, it’s important to understand the impact that being happy can have on mental well-being and overall health and that individuals can indeed create their own happiness. In fact, the relationship goes in both directions – if you are healthier, you are happier, and if you are happier, you are healthier!

Happiness is the physical, mental, and emotional state of well-being. It can be achieved by boosting your physical health as well as optimizing your emotional and mental health. Following a healthy lifestyle of balanced nutrition and physical activity can result in a lower heart rate, blood pressure, and anxiety, all of which can be linked to happiness. Additionally, happiness is associated with the release of endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters associated with brain health.

May is Mental Health Awareness month and the perfect opportunity to assess our own mental health, evaluate what makes us happy, share what happiness means to each of us with those we surround ourselves with, and how we can find it. In openly discussing your perception of happiness with others, you may discover that much of what can make you happy is not only linked to greater health and wellness, but completely within your control.

What Makes People Happy?

According to an Ipsos survey, people most look to their health and well-being (both physical and mental), their family (partner/spouse and children), and having a sense of purpose as what gives them “the greatest happiness.” Next comes their living conditions, feeling safe and in control, being in nature, having a meaningful job, and having more financial security.

While the path towards better health and its connection to happiness may be relatively straightforward, finding your purpose is also a personal journey requiring you to dig deep and get to know your true self. Positive psychology, the field which studies the optimization of emotional and mental health as well as happiness, has found that people who have a purpose are more likely to be happy.

Here are several proactive tips that can help guide you in your journey to creating your own happiness and achieving better overall health long-term.

Fuel Yourself

Science shows that healthy eating also contributes to happiness. The physical state of wellbeing is largely determined by how you fuel your body. Your body is a vessel that can only run optimally the better you take care of it. We do this by adopting daily habits of practicing balanced nutrition and a healthy active lifestyle.

Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly and maintaining an active lifestyle can benefit both our bodies and our minds. When we exercise, our muscles and brain benefit from an increase in blood flow bringing oxygen and nutrients to our brain cells. Our dopamine pathways in the brain are also stimulated which activate our pleasure center. For this reason, exercise is used for treating mood disorders, depression and addictive behaviors including overeating.

Make Time to Relax

There’s a reason why the worldwide interest in self-care is growing— making the time to relax and recharge is one of the best ways to find true happiness. The most effective way to do this is by igniting the relaxation response. This theory shows that relaxing has many effects on the body including lowering blood pressure, pulse and calming the mind. The step-by-step process to triggering the relaxation response includes 1) Sitting quietly in a private spot 2) Relaxing your muscles from head to toe by contracting and relaxing each muscle 3) Focusing on your breathing 4) Breathing deeply; and 5) Thinking of a relaxing image like ocean waves. Practicing this just 20 minutes a day can recharge your mind and help you get to sleep at night.

Finding Your purpose

A key principle of Positive Psychology is finding your “why,” or your purpose. True happiness comes from living a life that you choose because it fulfills your personal purpose. To find your purpose, elaborate on these four steps: 1) Find your passion or what you love 2) Establish your mission or what you feel the world needs more of 3) Work for which you can be paid 4) Have confidence in what you’re good at doing.

Once you have worked through these four steps, your purpose will be revealed. For myself and my colleagues at the Herbalife Nutrition Institute, that purpose is to foster the world’s premier health and wellness company and community, giving people the tools to live their best lives.

Remain Grateful

Reframing your mindset can go a long way—rather than complaining about things that are wrong in your life, focus on the good things, large or small. While this may be easier said than done, psychological research shows that concentrating on what is good in your life and expressing gratitude will make you happier. Keeping a gratitude journal or making a brief gratitude list every day giving thanks for all you have can help you improve your mood.

Focus on Things You Can Control

All of us have a circle of influence and a circle of concern. The circle of concern is made up of all the external factors that are out of your control, while the circle of influence includes things you can control—like your personal habits. Choose a proactive approach, and work on the things you can change rather than worrying about the things you cannot change. Taking responsibility for your personal habits and accomplishments will increase your confidence and your sense of happiness. Having a proactive mindset allows you to focus on change, rather than being inactive, which paralyzes your growth through worry and anxiety. One of the best ways to improve your happiness is to develop healthy habits in all aspects of your life—including eating a balanced diet and implementing a healthy active lifestyle.

Happiness is not an accident, or something that just happens, but something that you make happen. Happiness is a physical, emotional, and spiritual sense of well-being, that when found, should give you a lasting feeling of contentment. Use this month to consciously create your own happiness by implementing habits that will positively impact your physical and mental health enabling you to maintain a sense of inner peace.

Reebok’s Most Extra Collection

Reebok launches its ‘Most Extra’ Collection, celebrating nextgen marginalized creatives within the fashion industry.

Available now at Reebok.com, the collection is part of their purpose-led product platform that debuted in 2021 and has included Reebok’s Human Rights Now!

‘Most Extra’ features lifestyle footwear and apparel inspired by those who push boundaries in fashion and create iconic trends. To bring the line to life, Reebok worked with Statement Modelz, a student-run organization that showcases Black creativity in a positive light, to produce the campaign content and feature their network of up-and-coming fashion industry professionals.

In conjunction with the release Reebok is donating $15,000 to the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Social Justice Center, a first-of-its-kind initiative in higher education to address the diversity issues faced by BIPOC individuals throughout their education and career development.