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Promising kids free ice cream if they recite the Pledge of Allegiance

“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream,” begins the song, but a nationwide initiative spearheaded by an independent Georgia ice cream shop is putting a patriotic twist on the lyrics.

The “I Pledge Project” offers kids 12 and under a free scoop of ice cream at participating stores as long as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance instead of yelling.

Now in its 14th year, the I Pledge Project began in 2010 at Leopold's Ice Cream in Savannah, Georgia.

Enjoy the summer with this frozen drink. Get the refreshing recipe

“Our company has been rooted in patriotism ever since my father served in World War I,” Stratton Leopold said in a phone interview with Fox News Digital.

“And my brothers, my siblings, and my cousins. [served] In World War II.”

Stratton Leopold (left) of Leopold's Ice Cream in Savannah, Georgia, told Fox News Digital that his company is “rooted in patriotism.” (Leopold's Ice Cream)

Stratton and his wife, Mary, own Leopold Ice Cream.

The idea for the “I Pledge Project” came from Jean Macchi, a Leopold Ice Cream customer and teacher.

Macki suggested offering free ice cream to children who recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the Fourth of July.

This project seamlessly blends ice cream and patriotism.

“I said, 'Oh, I love this whole idea,'” Mary Leopold recalled to Fox News Digital.

She decided to expand the match idea because she wanted to “devote more time and do more for kids than just the Fourth of July.”

Try this delicious cake ice cream recipe that makes great use of leftover cake slices and requires no churn

July is also “National Ice Cream Month,” she noted, which made for a seamless blend of ice cream and patriotism.

News of the “I Pledge Project” spread after the Leopolds won a Best Promotion award from the National Ice Cream Retailers Association.

“Mary is on the board of directors for the National Ice Cream Retailers Association, so we just said, 'Well, come on, let's tell them about this,'” Stratton Leopold recalled.

“And then they gave us an award.”

New Jersey banana food truck serves up fruity frozen treats: 'Clean and refreshing'

“After winning the award, I was immediately fired up with the idea that every kid and every ice cream shop across the country should be doing this,” he added.

The idea for the “I Pledge Project” came from a Leopold Ice Cream customer who suggested it as a community event. Here, children recite the Pledge of Allegiance. (Leopold Ice Cream)

The Leopolds have created a website for the project, which also includes promotional materials that other independent ice cream shops can use to roll out the program.

A list of participating ice cream shops can be found on the website.

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Stores in 42 states are currently participating, and customers are encouraged to contact their local stores for more information about the promotion.

The Leopolds have created an “I Pledge Project” website with promotional materials to encourage other independent ice cream shops to host their own “I Pledge” events. (Leopold's Ice Cream)

“My dream is to have it in all 50 states,” Mary Leopold said.

“It's very close, but there are still some outliers.”

Ice Cream Quiz! How well do you know these sweet facts about the popular dessert?

Despite the exceptions, the Leopolds said they are pleased that their project is spreading and helping to promote civic education among children.

“It's nice,” Mary Leopold said. “The community is grateful, the kids are grateful.”

“Please bring your family and friends!”

She also said, “And all you have to do is hand out some ice cream. It's a no-brainer.”

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The website clearly explains how it works.

“If you're a kid and you love ice cream, come along to any of the participating ice cream or candy stores listed on this website and recite the Pledge of Allegiance,” it reads. “We'll reward your patriotism with a free scoop of ice cream! It's that easy! Bring your family and friends!”

For more lifestyle stories, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

More information available at ipledgeforicecream.com

Christine Roussel is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.

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Lawyer Up teams up with music AI startups Udio, Suno and Latham & Watkins

Photo credit: Steve Johnson

As their legal battle with major record labels begins to intensify, two music AI startups have hired Latham & Watkins, which also represents Open AI and Anthropic.

GenAI's music startups Suno and Udio have hired the elite law firm Latham & Watkins, which also represents Open AI and Anthropic, to defend themselves against a lawsuit filed in late June by the Big Three (Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and Universal Music Group).

The lawsuit filed by Sony, WMG and UMG alleges that Udio and Suno are illegally copying the labels' recordings to train AI models to generate music, “saturating the market with machine-generated content that directly competes with, devalues ​​and potentially drowns out authentic recordings.” [the labels were] was built.

Latham's team representing the AI ​​companies is led by Andrew Gass, Steve Feldman, Sy Damle, Britt Lovejoy and Nate Taylor. The plaintiff labels are represented by Moez Kaba, Mariah Rivera, Alexander Perry and Robert Klieger of Hueston Hennigan, and Daniel Cloherty of Cloherty & Steinberg.

Latham & Watkins has played a key role in defending companies in the artificial intelligence space, including defending Anthropic against copyright infringement claims brought by UMG and Concord Music last year. The firm also represents Open AI in a number of lawsuits filed against the company, including a lawsuit brought by comedian Sarah Silverman and other writers, and a lawsuit brought against the company by The New York Times.

The fair use defense is a common defense used by AI companies in copyright litigation because it allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission under certain conditions. It will undoubtedly be a key part of Latham & Watkins' case against Suno and Udio's activities. While fair use has historically applied to things like parody and news reporting, the AI ​​companies argue that it applies equally to creating a platform for the “intermediate” use of millions of other people's works to generate new works.

It remains to be seen how well these arguments will hold up once legal proceedings begin. The music industry has long criticized these and other AI companies for the datasets they use and whether they contain unauthorized copyrights. In a series of articles written by Ed Newton-Rex of the AI ​​music safety nonprofit Fairly Trained, he detailed how both Udio and Suno were able to generate music that was “strikingly similar” to copyrighted music by Jason Derulo, the Jackson 5, Mariah Carey, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Temptations, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and others.

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3-time illegally deported man returns to California, starts deadly fire in home with mother and child: sources

FOX Original Report: Authorities in California have arrested an illegal immigrant who has been deported thrice in connection with a house fire that killed a mother and two of her three children last month, law enforcement sources said.

Stockton police announced the arrest of suspect Jose Carmen Cardona, 59, on Friday morning.

A source familiar with the investigation told Fox News Digital that the suspect had been deported three times but was eventually returned to the United States.

Illegal immigrant accused of murdering Maryland mother Rachel Morin faces maximum sentence if convicted

Jose Carmen Cardona is seen in an arrest warrant photo after his arrest Friday on charges of arson and murder in connection with a house fire that killed a mother and two young boys. (Stockton Police Department)

The victims have been identified as Lisbeth Gutierrez Salazar, 32, and her two sons, Juan Gutierrez Salazar, 10, and Julian Cardona Gutierrez, 7. Only a third boy, whose name was not immediately released, escaped.

They were all asleep inside the mobile home at the time Cardona allegedly set it on fire.

Police said Cardona was in a relationship with the mother but was not the children's father.

Suspect in New Orleans tour guide murder case illegal in US, has criminal record: ICE

In this file photo, Stockton Police officers discuss the incident outside two parked patrol cars. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

According to authorities, the suspect fled the scene and police obtained an arrest warrant on June 28 and requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service.

The nationwide manhunt ended Friday with the arrest of a suspect in Modesto, about 30 miles from the crime scene.

U.S. Marshal Rasha Boyden for the Eastern District of California said Cardona was arrested without incident at the bus station.

Jose Carmen Cardona, 59, was taken into custody in Modesto on Friday, the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office said in a press conference. (San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office)

Cardona faces charges of murder, attempted murder and child endangerment, as well as multiple special charges of murder, arson and torture, all of which carry the death penalty.

Boyden offered his condolences to the family and called Cardona a “violent criminal.”

“I hope that the arrest of this violent criminal brings justice to you and your loved ones,” Boyden said at a news conference Friday afternoon. “This horrific act of violence was felt not only by people in the Central Valley, but across the entire country.”

Jose Carmen Cardona, a 59-year-old Hispanic man, was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on a murder charge. (Stockton Police Department)

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He is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Monday.

Meanwhile, he is being held without bail in the San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp, California.

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Morgan Wallen cancels Tampa and Charlotte concerts due to illness

Morgan Wallen sold out his Tampa concert on his One Night at a Time tour last night, but he won't be performing at the second show today at Raymond James Stadium.

The country singer said she was too sick to perform again this week, and also postponed her Charlotte shows, scheduled for July 18 and 19 at Bank of America Stadium. The cancellation was announced just an hour before the doors were set to open.

I was sitting in the rain to watch Morgan Warren play and then he cancelled. To say I'm pissed is an understatement. If he was feeling sick from last night why did he wait until almost an hour before the gates opened to announce the cancellation? It sucks.

— Gabs (@xJustGabs) July 12, 2024

“I hate to have to reschedule these shows, but I pushed through feeling sick last night in Tampa and unfortunately woke up feeling much worse today,” Warren wrote on X at 3:43pm, just hours before tonight's concert was supposed to begin. “As I will not be able to perform at 100% tonight I will be forced to postpone tonight's Tampa show to October 4th and next week's Charlotte shows to October 18th & 19th.”

Jelly Roll, one of Wallen's openers, posted that they are trying to organize a replacement concert in Tampa tonight, and he asked X fans to stay tuned.

To everyone in Tampa – we're working hard to get something set up for you somewhere tonight – stay tuned.

— Jelly Roll (@JellyRoll615) July 12, 2024

This isn't the first time Wallen has postponed a concert due to illness. After canceling a 2023 performance at the University of Mississippi's Vought-Hemingway Stadium, a security guard accused Wallen of being too intoxicated to sing. The security guard's employer, Best Crowd Management, denied the allegations in a statement reposted by Wallen's label.

Some Tampa fans chose to look on the bright side.

“See you on October 4th,” posted user X @jarroyo30. “The weather will be much nicer.”

Others seemed skeptical.

“It's okay to admit you're hungover,” X user @TheDegenWeekly responded. “The party scene in Tampa is awesome.”

Another theory has it to do with the famous strip club, Mons Venus.

Morgan Wallen cancels Day 2 in Tampa…Mons Venus beats him

— James (@JamesKleee) July 12, 2024

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What's your favorite new song this week?

This week, music lovers of all genres were treated to a ton of new releases, from pop to hip hop to K-pop.

For hip-hop fans, Eminem has announced his 12th studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce). The album features 19 tracks, including previously released singles “Houdini” and “Tobey” featuring Big Sean and Babytron, as well as a sequel to his 1999 album “Guilty Conscience” with Dr. Dre. Eminem also revealed that TDOSS is actually a “concept album,” and invited listeners to press play and follow the order of the project, which is listed from 1 to 19.

Meanwhile, Ice Spice has teamed up with Central Sea for “Did It First,” which will appear on his highly anticipated debut album, Y2K!, due for release on July 26th via 10K Projects and Capitol Records. “Did It First” is the fourth single from the album, following the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hit “Think U The Shit (Fart),” the Sean Paul-sampling “Gimme a Light,” and his latest release, “Phat Butt.”

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Check out the latest videos, charts and news

Check out the latest videos, charts and news

In the pop world, Katy Perry has made her comeback with the powerful “Woman's World,” her first proper release since her 2020 album, Smile, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. “Woman's World” is the lead track off Perry's highly anticipated dance-pop album, 143, which is code for “I love you.” According to Dictionary.com, the use of the word dates back to the early 1990s. The project will be released on September 20th.

ENHYPEN also released their highly anticipated sophomore album, ROMANCE : UNTOLD. “This project marks the beginning of a new chapter for ENHYPEN. These pioneering storytellers have captivated audiences with a series of tales including BORDER, DIMENSION, MANIFESTO, and BLOOD, in which they crossed boundaries, confronted themselves in a complex world, took the first steps to connect with their allies, and made sacrifices for the “you” they were connected to by blood,” read a press release announcing details about the project last month.

There's a ton of great music being released this week, and we want to know what your favorites are. Check out our Friday Music Guide here and let us know in the poll below.

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What's your favorite new song this week?

Cynthia Parkhurst

This week, music lovers of all genres were treated to a ton of new releases, from pop to hip hop to K-pop.

For hip-hop fans, Eminem has announced his 12th studio album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce). The album features 19 tracks, including previously released singles “Houdini” and “Tobey” featuring Big Sean and Babytron, as well as a sequel to his 1999 album “Guilty Conscience” with Dr. Dre. Eminem also revealed that TDOSS is actually a “concept album,” and invited listeners to press play and follow the order of the project, which is listed from 1 to 19.

Meanwhile, Ice Spice has teamed up with Central Sea for “Did It First,” which will appear on his highly anticipated debut album, Y2K!, due for release on July 26th via 10K Projects and Capitol Records. “Did It First” is the fourth single from the album, following the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hit “Think U The Shit (Fart),” the Sean Paul-sampling “Gimme a Light,” and his latest release, “Phat Butt.”

explore

Check out the latest videos, charts and news

Check out the latest videos, charts and news

In the pop world, Katy Perry has made her comeback with the powerful “Woman's World,” her first proper release since her 2020 album, Smile, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. “Woman's World” is the lead track off Perry's highly anticipated dance-pop album, 143, which is code for “I love you.” According to Dictionary.com, the use of the word dates back to the early 1990s. The project will be released on September 20th.

ENHYPEN also released their highly anticipated sophomore album, ROMANCE : UNTOLD. “This project marks the beginning of a new chapter for ENHYPEN. These pioneering storytellers have captivated audiences with a series of tales including BORDER, DIMENSION, MANIFESTO, and BLOOD, in which they crossed boundaries, confronted themselves in a complex world, took the first steps to connect with their allies, and made sacrifices for the “you” they were connected to by blood,” read a press release announcing details about the project last month.

There's a ton of great music being released this week, and we want to know what your favorites are. Check out our Friday Music Guide here and let us know in the poll below.

What's your favorite new song this week?

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Alec Baldwin trial paused, to resume Monday

Seth Kenney, prop supplier for “Rust” and owner of PDQ Props, was called to the stand at a special motion hearing on Friday, July 12.

Morrissey shows Kenny screenshots of text messages between Kenny and former Arizona state police officer Troy Teske (who is also a friend of Hannah Gutierrez Reed's father, Thel Reed), showing bullets.

Kenney confirmed that the bullets previously came from the set of “1883” in Texas.

Asked if that ammunition was ever brought to the “Last” site at Bonanza Creek Ranch, Kenney said, “Absolutely not.”

“Have you found out anything about the evidence in this case or the live ammunition that was stored there after November 1, 2021?” Morrissey asked Kenney, to which he replied “yes.”

Morrissey pressed, “Do you still believe this is evidence of an accidental death?” to which Kenny replied, “Absolutely not.”

“I've never spent as much time on a box of dummy bullets as I did on the ones that came from 1883, the dummy bullets that were sent to Rust,” Kenney said. “So I've never questioned providing live ammunition to Rust.”

Hours earlier, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the jury in Alec Baldwin's “Lust” shooting trial until 8:30 a.m. local time Monday.

Sommer heard arguments about live ammunition handed over to police following the conclusion of the trial of “Last” gunmaker Hannah Gutierrez Reed.

Baldwin's defense team argued that the prosecution concealed the real bullets from the defense by labelling them with a different case number. Alex Spiro also pointed out that the bullets were not sent to the FBI for analysis, even though they could have matched bullets found in the possession of prop distributor Seth Kenney.

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J Balvin and SAIKO release “Gaga” and other Best New Music Latin

Gaby Demeke

New Music Latin is a compilation of the best new Latin songs and albums recommended by Billboard's Latin and Billboard Español editors. Check out this week's picks below.

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Check out the latest videos, charts and news

Check out the latest videos, charts and news

J Balvin & SAIKO, “GAGA” (Sueños Globales/UMG Recordings)

The second single from J Balvin's upcoming album is a far cry from the first, “Polvo de Tu Vida,” with Chencho Corleone, which features hypnotic reggaeton drums. The Colombian hitmaker's new release, “Gaga,” is a club-friendly track with an electronic, head-bobbing beat. For the new single, Balvin enlists Spanish reggaeton and trap singer SAIKO. The song encapsulates the vibe Balvin is going for on his new album, “Rayo,” which Billboard reports will be released on August 9. He teased that the set will sound more like a house party than a collection of songs, and “Gaga” is sure to be a party starter. — Griselda Flores

Omar Montes & Lels B, “YOTULOKO” (Sony Music Latin)

Two of Spain's breakout stars, Omar Montes and Rellus B, have teamed up for “YOTULOKO,” which translates to “yo tu loco” (I'm your crazy) in English. Produced by Tumbao and co-written by Montes, Rellus and Estefano Belciano Garduño, “YOTULOKO” is a conceptual track that transports listeners to a fantasy island. The sensual reggaeton track combines seductive flutes with the melodious voices of the two Spanish artists. “Yo tu loco, mami yo tu loco” (I'm your crazy, baby, I'm your crazy) they sing in a chorus that could go viral on social media. The music video, directed by David Fernández, also known as “Molehawk” from Marbella, Spain, showcases the bromance between the two stars and the enchanting landscapes of their home country. — Jessica Royce

TIMØ, “Superpoder” (Universal Music Latino)

Colombian band TIMØ has released a new pop-rock single, “Superpoder,” that will make you believe again in the purity and innocence of childhood. The melody starts as an acoustic ballad with soft guitar chords, and gradually transforms into a lively Latin pop. The lyrics nostalgically recall childhood, when life was simpler and it was easier to believe that many things were possible: “I want to believe again in fairies and heroes and big dreams/Nothing is ever more important than being with my family on a Sunday afternoon.” TIMØ has shared the song's inspiring video on social media, along with images of the Colombian soccer team. — Luisa Calle

Jasiel Nunez, “Made in Paris” (Double P Records)

Following his successful collaboration with Peso Pluma (“Me Activo”, “Rosa Pastel”), Haciel Nunez returns with “Made in Paris”, a track showcasing his rapid rise and devotion to Parisian fashion. Co-produced with Ernesto Fernández, the song infuses traditional corrido elements with an urban vibe, reflecting the lifestyle changes the Guadalajara newcomer underwent as he rose to the top. In contrast to the stark visuals of “0 Sentimientos”, which featured the singer atop a desolate, snowy mountain, the music video for “Made in Paris” captures his lavish lifestyle, from playing high-stakes poker to flying in a private helicopter, highlighting his glamorous status. — Isabella Raygosa

Listen to more Latino picks from our editors in the playlist below.

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Eminem: What is Slim Shady's legacy with the new album and the Whodini single?

Image credit: Getty Images

Image caption, Eminem's Slim Shady persona has generated constant controversy, but it has also helped break down racial barriers in rap. Article Information Author, Alex Taylor Role, Culture Reporter June 1, 2024

Updated July 12, 2024

25 years after bursting onto the scene, rapper Eminem's provocative alter-ego, Slim Shady, appears to have finally been silenced.

The antagonistic Slim Shady, with his peroxide blonde hair and down-to-earth blue jeans, was a reference to Eminem's self-described “poor white” upbringing.

The title alludes to Slim Shady's violent end, with the rapper himself concluding, “I knew it was only a matter of time.”

The album was finally released on Friday, complete with artwork depicting Shady in a body bag, to mixed reviews from critics.

This follows the music video for the single “Toby,” in which Eminem wields a chainsaw at a Jekyll and Hyde-like opponent.

So if the rapper's alter-ego really did rise to the top in the end, how should we understand his legacy?

Image credit: Getty Images

Image caption: Eminem rehearsing his infamous performance of “The Real Slim Shady” at the 2000 MTV Awards.

Who is Slim Shady?

Born Marshall Mathers III, Eminem grew up in a low-income, predominantly black neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan.

Rapping became a way for him to escape a strained relationship with his parents and a childhood marked by bullying.

He was trying to break into music but felt “defeated” when Vanilla Ice became the face of white solo rap in 1990 and his pop party tune “Ice Ice Baby” sold millions of copies.

But the Mothers were different: “truly products of the ghetto streets,” Nick Hasted writes in his Eminem biography.

It also helped that he had a great flow, honed over years of rap battles.

Professor Anthony Kwame Harrison, a sociologist specializing in hip hop, praised Eminem's technique, saying, “His masterful rhyming and songwriting skills make him the last white pioneer of rap.”

Despite this, their 1996 album, Infinite, failed to garner attention from major record companies.

His early mentors, the Bass Brothers, came up with the idea of ​​”shock rap,” which led to the birth of Slim Shady.

“The market didn't buy into it until he started using a few foul language,” added Mark Bass.

Image credit: Getty Images

Image caption: The producing partnership between Eminem and Dr. Dre (right) helped bring rap into the commercial mainstream.

The resulting Slim Shady EP found its way to bigwigs Jimmy Iovine and NWA rap kingpin Dr. Dre, who quickly signed Eminem to Interscope.

Dre found an anti-hero in Slim Shady, and with his help, Eminem's crossover appeal was further strengthened by his collaborations with respected black rappers.

Their producing partnership may have bridged rap's racial divide, but unleashing 1999's Slim Shady LP on an unsuspecting masses also created contradictions in Slim Shady and Eminem's legacies that persist to this day.

“Incandescent”

When Eminem arrived as Slim Shady on lead single “My Name Is,” the timing was perfect to cause chaos: With America reportedly enjoying its “happiest decade” in the '90s, Shady exposed the inner workings of disillusioned white people.

The Slim Shady LP sold 500,000 copies in two weeks and won Eminem two of his 15 Grammy Awards. It was the last time an Eminem record did not debut at number one.

Released just a year later, the chart-topping Marshall Mathers LP targeted resentful parents, politicians, and societal hypocrisy. Shady delighted in exasperating white suburban life and blatantly proclaimed an unspoken truth: “There's a million guys just like me… swearing like me,” he spat.

When he performed the song on MTV in 2000, Shady challenged critics by bringing an army of look-alikes into the audience.

Rolling Stone magazine said he “rose from the white poor to a celebrity.”

“Kids get the joke.”

But despite his success, his legacy has been clouded by controversy over the violent misogyny and homophobia of his lyrics.

The depictions of murder, rape and libel continued into The Marshall Mathers LP, with rappers defending it as cinematic fantasy.

A 1999 review in Spin magazine called Eminem a “ticking time bomb” in white male culture.

Vox culture reporter Constance Grady added that during Eminem's breakthrough, “hypocrisy was seen as the last great social evil” and this justified “cynical” misogyny and homophobia as acceptable.

“The kids who listen to my music get the joke,” Eminem told Rolling Stone magazine in 2000.

Image credit: Getty Images

Image caption: Protesters hold signs during an anti-hate rally to protest Eminem's lyrics ahead of the 2001 Grammy Awards.

Image credit: Getty Images

Image caption: Despite the protests, Eminem later performed at the ceremony alongside Sir Elton John, who helped him battle addiction.

Mothers himself is a dual personality, with Shady's antics balanced by his thought-provoking raps as Eminem.

The song that best represents Eminem's self-awareness is “Stan.”

This groundbreaking story tells the story of an obsessive Shady fan who kills himself and his girlfriend because Eminem hasn't responded to his letter. The song ends with Eminem's apologetic response for being late.

Fandom writer Dr Phoenix Andrews says the song was prescient in its understanding of today's passionate internet following and its portrayal of the pressures and responsibilities of the artist-fan relationship.

“It was very rare for men to talk about mental health at the time and it's still stigmatized to this day,” says Dr Andrews. “For Eminem to reach out to Stan and not ridicule him was unusual for the time.”

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The clash between Eminem's personas had other unexpected consequences.

It could be said that the portrayal of the angry white man portrayed through Slim Shady has been co-opted by the American alt-right and white supremacist movements.

“Eminem is often mentioned in far-right online spaces,” added Sam de Bois, a musicology lecturer specialising in radicalisation at Örebro University in Sweden.

“They also sympathize with his underdog status; many young people see themselves as lacking social power,” he said.

A changing legacy?

Now the best-selling rapper of all time, Mathers is walking a tightrope, trying to come to terms with his own identity while also trying to control Slim Shady's unpredictable legacy.

This repoliticization stands in contrast to his decade-long pop-rap hits like “Not Afraid” and his collaborations with Rihanna like “Love the Way You Lie” and “The Monster,” which frequently used his own drug recovery as narrative inspiration and helped soften his image to a new generation.

The Pew Research Center found that there is an age gap in perceptions of the term, and an accompanying gap in political perceptions across age groups.

Conservative audiences generally see it as censoring artistic freedom, while more liberal people tend to see it as essential to accountability.

Image credit: Getty Images

Image caption: Eminem took a knee in protest against racism while performing with a hip-hop all-star lineup at the 2022 Super Bowl.

Despite the controversy, Eminem's last two albums have been streamed more than three billion times on Spotify, and he has ten songs that have exceeded one billion streams, putting him in line with Drake and Coldplay.

For freelance cultural journalist Kesewa Brown, the Mathers still hold an important place in hip-hop, but they're not as visible as they once were.

Though he remains widely admired for his distinctive lyrics, his name rarely features in modern rap discussions, which have been dominated by grime, Drake and socially conscious rappers like Kendrick Lamar.

So was killing Slim Shady an attempt to protect his legacy? “Maybe,” Brown says.

“He makes no secret of his disdain for the current state of the genre, and perhaps he wants to show that he still has it in him.”

“We have fans who grew up with Slim Shady, but sounding like his early 2000s music might alienate some fans.”

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It's a risk Eminem has alluded to, suggesting that the new album's lead single, “Houdini,” will “annihilate” his career.

The playful, nostalgic video, released in June, sees a present-day Eminem trying to stop a 2002 Shady from grabbing the microphone, having traveled back in time to the present.

In the fight, a hybrid version could eventually be formed, sparking a new wave of controversy.

Critic Stevie Chick gave the album two stars, calling Eminem “downbeat, joyless and uninspired.”

Which one is Shady? That depends on who you ask and when.

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European leaders downplay Orban's praise of Trump, defend Biden's gaffe as a 'slip of the tongue'

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban continues to unsettle European leaders by appearing to support Donald Trump and questioning whether President Biden is eligible to run for a second term.

“We continued our peace work at Mar-a-Lago,” Orban wrote on X's official social media account. “President @realDonaldTrump has proven himself a man of peace during his presidency, and he will do so again!”

“It was an honor to visit with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago today,” he wrote in another post, labelling the visit “Peace Mission 5.0.” “We discussed how to make peace happen. The good news today is that he's going to figure it out!”

Orban abruptly left a NATO summit in Washington, D.C. on Thursday to visit President Trump in Florida, one of several frequent visits by Orban since Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the European Union last week.

Russia plots to kill CEO of German arms manufacturer who is a thorn in Moscow's side

Orban's work is largely administrative in nature, but he has visited Russia, Ukraine and China in the past 10 days and framed the trips as part of a peace mission, although European leaders have repeatedly stressed that he does not represent the views of the European Union.

European Council President Charles Michel stressed that “the rotating presidency system does not represent the EU externally.”

“The position is clear,” Michel told Euronews. “This visit by the Hungarian prime minister is not a visit on behalf of the EU.”

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says NATO must act to stop Putin

Orban continues to attract attention after it was revealed that at a state dinner on Wednesday during the NATO summit, he told other leaders that NATO allies who believe Biden can still win the next presidential election are “like passengers on the Titanic playing the violin on a sinking ship,” according to the Financial Times.

Biden made the gaffe by calling the Ukrainian president “President Putin” rather than Zelensky before his Thursday night press conference (which his campaign had been billing all week as a “big boy” press conference), in which he noted the great work of “Vice President Trump.”

President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during a visit to Mar-a-Lago, Thursday, July 11, 2024. (@PM_ViktorOrban)

“If I slowed down and I didn't get the job done, that would be a sign that I shouldn't be doing it,” Biden argued. “But we haven't seen that yet.”

Other leaders rejected the “pessimism” about Biden, claiming the president was “fully present” during the summit, with many rallying to boost Biden's image, the outlet said.

Blinken says US F-16 fighter jets heading to Ukraine from Denmark, Netherlands

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised the president, saying he was “speaking clearly about issues he knows well, taking responsibility” and was “on good form,” the BBC reported.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, U.S. President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary of State Jens Stoltenberg attend the North Atlantic Council summit during the NATO summit in Washington, DC, July 10, 2024. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

“I have always found him to be a president who is in charge and has clear ideas on issues he knows well,” Macron said. “Everyone lets their tongues slip sometimes. I have done it before and maybe tomorrow.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also dismissed the gaffe as a “slip of the tongue”, claiming that “if you watch everyone all the time you'll find enough gaffes.”

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Finnish President Alexander Stubb said he had “no concerns at all about the ability of the current US president to lead his country, to lead the fight against Ukraine and to lead NATO,” but acknowledged he was concerned about the “toxic” and “polarized” political situation in the United States.

Russian media picked up on Biden's gaffe, with one outlet using it as an excuse to call Biden “demented” and ask, “Which is more dangerous: a monkey with a grenade or a trembling hand pressing the nuclear button?”

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