Pop Shots – Choosing Teams

Welcome to your weekly dose of pop world musings. Covering all things pop culture, this week Pop Shots is hitting you with thoughts on everything from Lil Yachty collaborating with a toy company, to Spinderella’s comments on the possibility of a full Salt-N-Pepa reunion, to an odd amount of support for a controversial country artist, and since this is Pop Shots you know everything is seasoned with a little bit of attitude.

* Lil Yachty and Mattel are teaming up on a movie based on the card game Uno. Described as “an action heist comedy set in the underground hip-hop world of Atlanta” … wait, I gotta stop, I’m sorry, but what in the hell kinda Uno were they playin’ growin’ up?!?! I don’t remember any of those cards.

* BTS will take the stage from Seoul, South Korea for an MTV Unplugged special that will air on February 23rd at 9pm EST. Sooo, a boy band without any choreography … yeah, this should go well.

* Toronto mayor John Tory made February 7th “The Weeknd Day” in honor of the singer’s halftime performance at Super Bowl LV. If The Weeknd gets his own day for Super Bowl LV, does L.V. get his own weekend?

* Ariana Grande has replaced herself atop the Pop Airplay chart as “34+35” has bumped “Positions” from the #1 spot. This makes Grande the first artist to replace themselves at #1 as the only act credited on both tracks. I guess that column I wrote about young artists showing a lack of maturity with their music was met with total disagreement by the masses. Weee!

* Five Finger Death Punch became the eighth act with at least 10 #1 songs on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, with “Living the Dream” being their latest to reach the top spot. In a related story, R. Kelly’s latest project, Five Finger … you know, lemme not finish that joke.

* According to Spinderella, no one should be holding their breath for a full Salt-N-Pepa reunion. In a recent interview the DJ said, ”The only way something like that would happen is if we get this business handled and that they offer an apology to me.” It sounds like the trio needs to talk about more than just sex.

* YFN Lucci was released from jail on $500,000 bond. The rapper had been booked into Fulton County jail last month in connection with a December 10th shooting which left one man dead, and another injured. His bond conditions include that he must surrender his passport, and wear a GPS ankle monitor. For those who don’t know what a GPS ankle monitor does, it’s basically your iPhone, but with the ability to track you being the only app.

* Country artist Morgan Wallen’s latest video was a bad one, as it was of him shouting curse words, and dropping the N-bomb. After the clip made its way around the internet his label suspended his contract indefinitely, and radio airplay of his songs plummeted. Streams of his music, however, maintained, and sales have skyrocketed. When it comes to the people buying his albums after the incident, could it be any more obvious what they actually support? I’ll give you a hint – it doesn’t have anything to do with the music.

* FX recently aired a documentary titled The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears, which takes an in-depth look at the singer’s long-running conservatorship, and the rising #FreeBritney movement. To say she’s had to deal with toxic people over the course of her life would be an understatement. Sadly, based on the film, it seems like some people are still trying to get a piece of her, and the court system is allowing them to.

That’s all for this edition of Pop Shots, but come back next Monday for more shots on all things pop.