Category Archives: Rockall

A list ranking anything to do with Hip-Hop typically results in irrationally impassioned arguments (just ask the consistently controversial Brian B. Dot Miller). Regarding this list, all smoke can be directed toward Austin Williams, VIBEs Senior Music Editor who ultimately chose the order in which these projects appear.

Before things heat up, though, lets make one thing clear: The following rankings were deeply considered by someone whos made a living off his critical opinion for the better part of a decade, but like all others youll read this time of year, they truly do not matter. The debates, the grandstanding, the indignant campaigning on behalf of your faves and ours; thats all in good fun, but none of it is remotely important.

What is important about this list is its a celebration of the music that got us through another pandemic year that could have ended us all. If youre a true music-lover, chances are at some point you enjoyed many of the 21 albums and EPs included below. Dont worry about whether we crowned the one you enjoyed the most.

If the softer sides of Folarin II and Montero appealed to you as much as they appealed to R&B Reporter Mya Abraham, dig into the blurbs she wrote instead of fussing over which came first. If Westside Gunns HWH8 moved you the way it moved Editor-in-Chief Datwon Thomas, tag them both on Twitter and show some love. Whether its Hip-Hop Reporter Preezy Browns praise for Bo Jackson, Executive Editor Christine Imarenezors case for Sometimes I Might Be Introvert, or Staff Writer DeMicia Inmans affection for Planet Her, these are authoritative opinions, but first and foremost theyre picks of passion. Dont let yours make you look like an a**hole.

Heres VIBEs list of the 21 best Hip-Hop albums of 2021.

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The 21 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2021: Staff Picks - Vibe

Iconic "UQAM girl," artist/art shop owner and OnlyFans content creator Hlne Boudreau is currently on a year-long trip around the world. Naturally, she's documenting the whole thing on Instagram which, over the past few days, has meant posts about taking a forbidden hike in Hawaii, getting lost in the woods and facing a criminal record.

In a series of stories posted to Instagram on December 23 and December 24, Boudreau shared the details of her misadventure, which included a large fine, a run-in with a wild boar and possible jail time.

Your browser does not support the video tag. @iamhely I Instagram

"I'm gross [...] I got lost in the woods for six hours, there were security guards chasing me. There was a parked tank looking at me, I crawled in the mud, I hid under a rock, all my pants are torn [...] There is a wild boar with a baby that came to attack me and I risk a $1,000 fine and jail," Boudreau posted, while attempting to access the illegal 3,922-step "Stairway to Heaven" hike in Oahu.

"And this is alone in the world."

A few hours later, Boudreau returned to Instagram with new stories, stating that she was indeed fined.

"Well, the police came, I have a ticket and maybe a criminal record, but I'm really happy to make it out alive so I'm thinking, 'Well if I have a criminal record, my dream of living in the United States is dead.' But other than that, it is what it is. [...] I'm just happy to be alive, gang, even if I have a ticket, a $1,000 ticket and I'm going to court in January," said Boudreau.

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Boudreau added that she "clearly" won't be at her January court date since the court is in Hawaii, which she believes means she's going to wind up with a criminal record.

She went on to explain that she'll be releasing a video on YouTube with more information. She concluded by explaining the reason she was fined and why she must appear in court:

"Everyone wants to know why I got fined ($1,000 USD) and have to go to court, it's because the hike I did is totally illegal. It's been illegal since the 1980s, but on Instagram, it's trendy and cool to do it [...] It's really hard to just go to the entrance of the stairs because of the many barriers and security guards. The legal part of this hike is one of the ten most difficult in the world."

According to a New York Times article published in September, this hike may be on its last legs as "the mayor of Honolulu ordered the stairs' removal, following a recommendation by the City Council, because of concerns over safety, trespassing and the environment."

Aside from the possible criminal record, torn clothing and all the rest of it, Boudreau told her followers that she made it back to her hotel safely that evening.

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Hlne Boudreau Went On An Illegal Hike In Hawaii & Says She Might Get A Criminal Record - MTL Blog

When the chill is in the air, it is time to update your wardrobe for the winter season. Its time to trade in your chinos, dresses and tees for something warm and cozy yet comfortable and stylish.

When it comes to stocking your wardrobe for the cold weather, you dont necessarily have to be comfortable and warm in the name of style. But the other way around is also true you dont have to compromise on fashion just to be cozy.

You can enjoy the best of both worlds! For this winter, designers and clothing brands have imparted style and allure on the warmest and coziest beauties, making this season all about versatility and adaptability.

Not sure where to get started and searching for winter fashion inspo? You have come to the right place!

Ahead, we have put together five winter trends that are going to knock your boots off. So, if you want your winter outfits to impress while keeping you warm, be sure to shop and infuse these trends into your wardrobe.

Camo pants are a must for this winter and an irrefutable proof that the military print can stay on the pulse of fashion forever. As noted by Sanctuary Clothing, the pattern is currently experiencing a major sartorial revival this winter, and we absolutely love it.

Camouflage pants are bold, chic and exude confidence that you need to step out in style after more than eighteen months spent at home in sweatpants and pajamas.The combat-esque trend has been all the rage for a while now but has recently made its way to the major fashion powerhouses, who are re-thinking camo prints in their latest fashion shows, runways and collections.

Olive green camo pants will always be the classic option, but this winter, you should try bolder pants to effortlessly stand out from the crowd. Think earth camo, forest camo or the opposite like bold neons or bright primary options.

Keen to get out of that pair of leggings you have been wearing for months? Say no more. Rocking camo pants in partnership with cozy sweaters or fancy coats not only is a much more versatile everyday option but will also render your outfit far more comfortable and stylish.

Dont be afraid to go for bolder colors, too. For instance, a combo of camo pants and a violet faux fur jacket is functional and highly fashionable. Throw a pair of hot pink ankle boots and a beige crossbody bag, and a turtleneck to the mix for maximum effect.

Camo pants deliver great variety for any casual outfit. For example, pairing them with an olive park is effortlessly easy to pull off and so comfy to rock all day long. Are you feeling a little inventive? Why not introduce dark green wedge sneakers for an added zing.

This winter, dont settle for anything short of all-weather boots that will help keep your feet warm and make your outfit look extra chic. And, thankfully, there are plenty to choose from this season, from iconic loafers to hardworking uggs.

The evergreen, edgy thick lug-sole boots are big right now, especially incredibly trendy styles like Chelsea boots. Lightweight and packed with attitude, boots set on lug soles wont bog you down and are known for flexing while you walk. They certainly make your outfits look edgier and prettier, whether you are rocking a pair of camo pants, a warm dress or denim jeans.

The legendary loafer is another shoe trend that has continued to take the world of fashion by storm. It has been making a come-back in the past few years, meaning this winter is the best time to snag a pair of these iconic beauties. If you already have loafers in your wardrobe, you can add more with luxurious hardware and new pastel colors, which are being touted as one of the biggest looks of the year.

If lug-sole boots and loafers dont cut the mustard for you, youll be glad to know that slouchy suede boots are back with a bang! This best-of-breed shoe style is an icon of adaptability and for good reason. You can team suede slouch boots with pants, dressers, or khakis and they will elevate any outfit.

Matching sets are another fun style that is enjoying a lot of traction and street cred this winter season. This is especially the case when it comes to neutral-toned, soft matching sets, including flared and ribbed pants.

Matching sets in neutral hues are effortlessly easy to put together, flattering, and most crucially versatile when styling. If you have had some doubts about wearing neutral sets or matching sets in general, consider the plausible perks that come with the fun trend.

For one thing, neutral sets dont draw too much attention and, therefore, provide you with more ways to style your outfit. You can go bold with a bright-colored hat, embellished accessories or colorful shoes.

For instance, a hot pink hat and a beige matching set worn together are an absolute eye-candy for anyone who prefers chic-looking outfits. Introduce dark green lace-up ankle boots to the mix to spice things up.

Another awesome thing about neutral sets is that anyone can rock it, regardless of body type. Quite frankly, theres no rule for who can pull off a fantastic matching set. But, if you want to elongate your silhouette, then it will help you stylishly achieve your goal.

Gold, silver and yellow gems have dominated the jewelry space for eons, but try more colorful pieces this winter. They are whimsical, fun, and add a pop of color to your look, especially if you are rocking many neutrals in your outfit.

For example, you can draw attention to your earlobes by wearing neon drop earrings with a cream or beige matching set. The same goes for bracelets, pendants, watches, cuffs, necklaces, and rings.

The legging in and of itself isnt groundbreaking, but leggings-style pants are getting all the attention right now. This doesnt come as a big surprise given that more people are looking for a happy middle ground between loungewear and work dress pants after spending many months at home in leggings.

Even better, these leggings-inspired pants come in more fit and fabric options. Weve already seen cashmere, polyester, rayon, and wool leggings, but what about cotton modal and viscose? No matter your preferred fabric, at least one pair of leggings-style pants should be found in your wardrobe this winter season.

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With Winter Here, Here Are The Five Trends You Can Adopt Now - Scoop Empire

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Wild-card teams can be some of the most dangerous in the NFL playoffs.

While these squads may not have been among the regular season's most dominant, they can get hot at the right time to make a Super Bowl run.

Eleven wild-card teams have reached the big game since the 1975 Cowboys became the first to do so, with sevenincluding last year's Buccaneerslifting the Lombardi Trophy.

Several teams have the potential to join that exclusive group during the 2021 postseason.

Factors such as how well a team is playing in recent weeks, the talent level of both sides of the ballespecially at quarterbackand the quality of opponents vanquished have all gone into these rankings.

The five teams below are those that would either be a wild-card team if thecurrent playoff picture held true, or those within striking distance that could close the gap over the final few weeks.

Current division leaders were not considered.

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While the Bills and Patriots have been trading blows atop the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins have come out of seemingly nowhere to get into wild-card contention.

After an abysmal 1-7 start, Miami has won six in a row, a streak that only the Chiefswinners of seven straightcan best right now.

It's worth noting that the Dolphins have feasted on some weaker opponents. Five of those six victories came against the lowly Texans, Panthers, Giants and Jets (twice), but Miami did pick up a quality win over the potentially playoff-bound Ravens last month.

The improving play of second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been instrumental to Miami's turnaround. He's been a much more accurate passer in the back half of the campaign.

Tagovailoa had only completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 1,040 yards and seven touchdowns against five interceptions in five games from Weeks 1 to 8. His completion rate has improved to 74.5 percent since, amassing 1,101 yards and seven scores against three interceptions in five appearances.

The ground game has provided a boost during the winning streak too. The team ranks No. 7 over the last six weeks with seven rushing scores, a noticeable difference from the four rushing TDs scored up to Week 8.

The defense has been smothering since Week 10 began, allowing 13.2 points per game and holding four of its last six opponents to 10 or fewer points.

Miami's upcoming schedule will reveal whether this team is a pretender or contender. The 'Phins have tough clashes with the Saints, Titans and Patriotsa divisional rival they already toppled in the season openerto close out the 2021 campaign.

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The San Francisco 49ers are quietly emerging as one of the NFC's toughest teams.

After a rocky start in which the club only won three of its first eight games, San Francisco has taken five of its last six and is well positioned to make a playoff run.

While the 49ers have long odds of winning the NFC Westthey sit two games behind the division-leading Cardinals with three contests to playthey are looking like a great bet to make the postseason field.

After an impressive 31-13 beatdown of the lowly Falcons last weekend, San Francisco holds the No. 6 seed in the NFC. At 8-6, the team has a bit of breathing room ahead of the 7-7 Vikings, Eagles and Saints and faces matchups with the Titans, Texans and Rams.

The Niners shouldn't worry about traveling to start the playoffs. They rate among the best on the road, going 5-2 as a visitor this year. That mark ties them for the fourth-best road winning percentage.

This squad plays the type of football that wins games in January, ranking No. 7 in rushing with a platoon of quality backs in Elijah Mitchell, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Trey Sermon. San Francisco also employs one of the league's most versatile weapons in wideout Deebo Samuel, who ranks first in receiving yards and second in rushing yards on the team.

The Niners boast a defense that is becoming one of the league's more consistent unitsespecially against opposing aerial attacksranking No. 6 total yards allowed and No. 7 in passing yards allowed.

It may not be the sleekest way to win, but San Francisco's strong run game and sturdy defense can get the job done come playoff time.

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Although the Buffalo Bills are no longer the favorite to win their conference, AFC foes still won't want to face them in the playoffs.

Buffalo hit a rough patch when it lost three out of four games from Weeks 11 to 14 but recently got back on track with a resounding victory over the Panthers on Sunday.

The win brought the Bills up to the No. 7 seedbehind the 8-6 Colts and Chargers based on tiebreakerswhile also giving the club hope of potentially passing the 9-5 Patriots at the top of the AFC East.

Even if Buffalo doesn't top New England, the club is still a strong contender to make a run from any of the conference's wild-card slots.

The Bills have traveled decently in 2021, going 4-3 away from Orchard Park. They picked up impressive road wins against the Chiefs and Saints earlier in the season and have a chance to add another in Foxborough this weekend.

As with last year's surprise run to the AFC Championship Game, signal-caller Josh Allen has been the catalyst for this team's successes, as he has thrown for 3,734 yards and 31 touchdowns in 14 starts.

Allen has added an edge to Buffalo's run game, too, which has dialed it up a notch recently. The QB contributed 109 yards and a touchdown in a collective 173-yard rushing effort against the defending champion Buccaneers in an overtime loss two weeks ago.

Starting running back Devin Singletary shouldered the load against Carolina, putting up 86 yards and a score on 22 totes. If he can continue pounding the rock consistently, Buffalo will have a nicely balanced attack come playoff time.

Add in a defense that has allowed a meager 287.9 yards and 17.4 points per gamethe league's best and second-best marks, respectively, this seasonand the Bills look like a force.

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The Los Angeles Rams' decision to upgrade from Jared Goff to Matthew Stafford under center has been a resounding success. The quarterback has rejuvenated an offense that looks good enough to win it all.

Los Angeles ranks No. 6 in total yardage, No. 5 in scoring and No. 4 in passing yardage. Stafford's built a strong rapport with receiver Cooper Kupp, who has broken out as a legitimate superstar following four years working as a quality possession receiver.

Kupp leads the league in nearly every major receiving category, including receptions (122), receiving yards (1,625) and touchdown catches (14). His breakout year has helped L.A. win 10 of its first 14 games despite the defense's step back from last year's league-leading unit.

Don't discount the Rams on that side of the ball, however, as the team still ranks in the top half of the league in scoring, passing, rushing and total defense. The pass-rushers and their 39 sacks shouldn't be underestimated either.

Los Angeles could still take the NFC West from the Arizona Cardinals, but it shouldn't matter where this team starts a postseason run. The Rams have traveled extremely well this season, posting a 5-2 record as a visitor.

The club outright won both games in which it was an underdog, toppling a pair of division leaders in the Buccaneers and Cardinals to accomplish the feat.

If the Rams do get in as a wild-card entrant, there is a real chance they end up playing a home game deep in the postseason. L.A. could very well follow Tampa Bay as the second consecutive team to appear in a Super Bowl at its home venue.

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After the Indianapolis Colts' 1-4 start, few would have suspected they'd become one the most feared teams late in the 2021 season.

This squad has forged a fearsome identity behind the sensational play of Jonathan Taylor, the second-year back who has the Colts ready for playoff success as a hard-nosed rushing team supported by a quality defense.

Taylor overtook Derrick Henry as the NFL's best back after the Titans star suffered a Week 8 foot injury. The Wisconsin product is leading the league by a massive margin in rushing, with his 1,518 yards clocking in 424 yards ahead of his closest competitor.

The 22-year-old has been almost unstoppable since Week 4's win over the Dolphins. He's rushed 228 times for 1,347 yards and all 17 of his league-leading touchdowns in that span. Not coincidentally, the Colts are 8-3 since his breakout began that week and have moved up to the AFC's No. 5 seed.

While Indianapolis' season-long defensive numbers don't jump off the page, the team has been noticeably improving on that side of the ball. The Colts shut out the lowly Texans in Week 13 and then held the Patriotswho were No. 1 in the AFC coming into the gameto just 17 points in a key victory Saturday.

Because of that big win over New England, Indy still has a realistic shot at overtaking the Titans in the AFC South.

While the Colts do trail by a game with three left to play and don't own the head-to-head tiebreaker after getting swept by their divisional rival this season, Tennessee has lost three of its last four and could continue collapsing down the stretch.

It shouldn't hinder the Colts much to start on the road in the Wild Card Round. Indianapolis is 4-2 away from Lucas Oil Stadium, with both losses coming during its awful start.

As long as Indy's defense can stay hot, Taylor and the Colts offense can pound the rock all the way to the Super Bowl.

Odds via DraftKings unless otherwise noted.

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Ranking the NFL's Most Dangerous Potential 2021 Wild-Card Teams - Bleacher Report

Each week during the 2021 NFL season,TheLines will examine how the coming weeks NFL lines have changed relative to preseason or prior expectations. Often, early lines can give an objective look at teams relative talent levels, absent week-to-week recency bias when the weekend results take hold. Lets take a look at NFL Week 16 spreads and see which numbers have changed and, potentially, why.

Tracked lines below come from FanDuel Sportsbook. Prices are -110, unless otherwise noted.

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A couple of games moved significantly off the look-aheads among NFL Week 16 spreads. One them had a team come in with a result way off-market in Week 15, but the other did not. Lets take a look.

Probably no team had a worse Week 15 showing than the Arizona Cardinals. They went on the road and got thumped by the woeful Detroit Lions, spiraling into a 24-3 hole from which they never dug out.

The offense has taken a major hit with the loss WR DeAndre Hopkins. Amazingly, the Lions passing game outproduced them by a significant margin, meaning this doesnt look like a total fluke.

Also, that Lions loss came a week after another pretty convincing defeat to the Rams.

Meanwhile, the Colts got a huge lead on the Patriots before having to sew it up late with another TD.

Interestingly, they turned the tables with a very Belichickian win, getting the victory purely by minimizing their own mistakes while letting the Patriots make a ton. It seems hard to imagine they can beat the Cardinals with a 60-yard passing effort from Carson Wentz.

If you believe that this is just a rut and the Cardinals were rightfully rated among the top teams, the market has offered a dream spot to buy them against a red-hot Colts team that just got a pretty non-predictive win.

Another game that looks to match two teams going in opposite directions.

This time, however, its much more difficult to parse where this massive move comes from. Sure, the Titans lost on the road to the Steelers. But, the market expected a close contest and the Steelers indeed won by one score with the Titans having the ball and driving to the Steelers to try to win the game and the end.

The 49ers beat the Falcons by 18, but that doesnt tell the real story. The Falcons couldnt get a stop to save their lives but they repeatedly drove to the red zone and failed on 4th and short. A couple of plays go differently and they probably cover the +8ish closing line.

The Titans have lost three of four, with the lone victory coming over the Jaguars. One of the losses was to Houston and another came by 23 to New England. Their market has very likely bottomed out. They still have a solid defense, ranked 11th in EPA/play, and AJ Brown could return this week.

Getting a key number here at home, theyre worth a look.

A few other lines moves were smaller but danced through or off of key or semi-key numbers.

A slight move here with the Chargers no longer laying double digits against the Texans. The Chargers played to market expectations, basically, losing a tight one to Kansas City. They also come in with extra rest.

We can be pretty certain, then, that line move comes from the Texans actually looking like a professional football team for two straight weeks.

In Week 14, they lost in somewhat respectable fashion to the Seahawks. Davis Mills actually showed a pulse as he threw for 331 yards without a turnover. In Week 15, they went on the road and beat the Jags by 14 despite losing the turnover battle 1-0. Mills again played in a way that didnt scream he should be coaching the local high school team instead.

If this passing offense has reached the level of merely bad NFL unit, rather than off-the-charts worst in the league, the Texans can definitely cover some double-digit lines down the stretch.

Where the Texans offense looks to be rounding into semi-respectable form, things are quite the opposite in New York. The Giants had yet another comically inept week on that side of the ball. This time, they turned it over four times to the Cowboys.

Its probably time to hand the keys to Jake Fromm, as Mike Glennon has played himself to the bench. Fromm entered late in the loss to Dallas and fired his first 12 professional passes, completing six for 82 yards.

The market has low expectation, and rightfully so. Keep in mind Fromm was a 2020 fifth-round pick whom the Bills already showed the door.

The Eagles woke up from a slow start and dominated Washington. Theres no reason they cant pound the rock all day here against a Giants defense thats 29th in run defense EPA/play and missing its top interior run stuffer in Dexter Lawrence.

One concern here is Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni testing positive for COVID and having symptoms. It may be wise to ensure key players do not test positive as well.

Its a bit surprising that this line moved toward the Vikings considering they looked really poor on offense this week. They managed just 87 yards passing against a crew of backup defensive backs for the Bears, winning based almost purely off turnovers.

The Rams offense looked stuck in the mud once again, too, though. Seattle should have been an easy target for their passing game since they rank 28th in pass defense DVOA, but the offensive line failed to do its part as Matt Stafford absorbed sacks on several critical downs.

Perhaps this is merely a reaction to Minnesota getting extra rest instead of the other way around.

Speaking of that Vikings game, the other side of that was the Bears scoring far less than they probably deserved. Between the 20s, they looked like a machine, marching down the field repeatedly.

Once they got there, things took a drastic turn for the worst on high-leverage downs. The Bears went a combined 4-for-19 on third- and fourth-down plays. They also kindly provided tape for coaches everywhere on how not to secure the football as they fumbled three times and lost them all.

Obviously, some bad luck factors into the latter issue, and the former should get some positive correction by sheer regression to the mean. The Seahawks are far from scary, so it seems reasonable the line corrected slightly below a TD especially with the Hawks flipping from the rest advantage to a disadvantage as well.

Again, we have a game among NFL Week 16 spreads where the rest situation shifted quite a bit. This time, Dallas went from a neutral rest spot to a big advantage with the Football Team playing on Tuesday.

Now, Washington faces a short week to try to figure out how to move the ball against a Dallas defense that throttled it to the tune of 3.6 YPP just two weeks ago.

Washingtons roster remains in flux as well. Theyve been one of the teams hit hardest by COVID and have a ton of injuries to boot. The secondary in particular looks thin. Thats not good against a Dallas receiving corps with an abundance of weapons.

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NFL Week 16 Spreads: Time To Buy Low On Titans, Cardinals? - TheLines.com

Clockwise from top left: Brendan Yates of Turnstile (Photo: Getty Images), Olivia Rodrigo (Photo: Kevin Mazur/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images), Jazmine Sullivan (Photo: Valeska Thomas), Tyler, The Creator (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images), Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast (Photo: Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images)Graphic: Natalie Peeples

Any best-of list is by definition incomplete: Theres always a great record that got overlooked, an abundance of riches that simply didnt fit into the limited numbers of spaces available, a genre whose strengths werent properly appreciated. But even taking all of that into account, its pretty clear that this year created a hunger in many people for the addictive pleasures of pop music. Popand often mainstream pop, at thattakes up more space on this years list of the 20 best albums than it normally would. Theres plenty of rap, indie rock, punk, soul, and more, but theres a clear dominance by that most populist of genres.

And honestly? Were not the least bit surprised. 2020 was a shitshow, to put it mildly, and 2021 has only partially recouped a sense of stability in this world. During such trying times, its only natural that our predilections might gravitate toward music that comforts above all else, that vibrates with the familiar frequencies of easy pleasures and offers a balm of simple melodies and rhythms. (And heyfor those who found the past 20 months just made them want to scream, weve also got The Armed.)

But whether youre looking for a new artist to fall in love with or checking to see if your own favorites made the list, the following are the albums that found the most common ground among the 11 critics who contributed to this years A.V. Club list. (If you are outraged that something isnt on here, it was definitely at number 21.) There was no clear victor who broke away from the pack this year; the top five albums were all within spitting distance of one another. And all of these records made us fall in love with the immediate power of music all over again.

Note to desktop users: If youd like to read this in a scrolling format (and why wouldnt you?), simply narrow your browser window.

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The 20 best albums of 2021 - The A.V. Club

Tyson Bagent, the 2021 DII football passing leader, is the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy winner. The announcement was made on Friday, Dec. 17. He is the first recipient of the trophy since the 2019 season and the 19th quarterback to win the award.

The Harlon Hill Trophy is named after the North Alabama superstar that went on to an illustrious NFL career. It has been given to the DII football player of the year annually since 1986, minus the 2020 season that wasn't played due to COVID-19.

You can find everything you need to know and the complete history of the award by clicking or taping here:

HARLON HILL TROPHY: An essential guide to the DII football award

Now that we know the winner, let's take a look at each of the eight finalists for the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy.

FOLLOW THE 2021 CHAMPIONSHIP: News, updates, score and schedule from championship week

Tyson Bagent, Shepherd:Bagent had been one of the surest arms in DII football for the past three seasons. As a freshman, he stepped in and set several Mountain East records before the Rams shifted to the PSAC. Since moving to the PSAC, Bagent has thrown for 9,349 yards, finishing second in DII in 2019 and first this past season with 5,000 yards. His 53 touchdown passes also led DII in 2021.

The Rams are 30-8 with Bagent at the helm. He added to his lore this postseason by orchestrating three comebacks in the 2021 DII football championship, throwing last-second, game-winning touchdowns in back-to-back weeks that helped the Rams reach the semifinals for the first time since 2016.

Henry Litwin, Slippery Rock: Talk about a warrior. Litwin had yet another strong season in 2021, posting totals of 1,042 yards and 13 touchdowns. It was revealed at seasons end that he did this all with a broken collarbone. Along the way, he became The Rocks all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns while being named the only DII football finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy.

For his career, Litwin posted 3,392 receiving yards and 42 touchdowns. His 1,509 yards and 21 touchdowns were second in DII in 2019, when he was Roland Rivers IIIs top target en route to a spot in the semifinals for The Rock. Slippery Rock has made the DII football tournament every year that Litwin has been a full-time starter and won four playoff games over that span.

Austin Reed, West Florida: Reed has had quite the career for the Argos. In just two seasons, the quarterback has led them to their first national title in 2019 and followed it up with the Argos first-ever Gulf South Conference championship. Along the way, he threw for 7,502 yards, earned the GSC freshman of the year honors and is now a Harlon Hill finalist.

Watch all 6 touchdown passes from West Florida's Austin Reed in DII football championship

This season, Reed averaged 310.73 yards passing per game, nearly a 40-yard improvement from his sensational 2019 debut. He threw for 300 or more yards in six of his 11 games while tossing four touchdowns seven times. He threw just eight interceptions, three of which came in the first-round stunner to Newberry. This is a rather remarkable stat considering Reed threw the ball well more than 30 times a game this season.

Calil Wilkins, Bowie State: Bowie State has had two legitimate rushing threats at quarterback the past few seasons, starting with two-time Harlon Hill-nominee Amir Hall and currently Jarome Johnson. Wilkins showed he was more than capable at the bell cow role in 2021 rushing for 1,322 yards at 5.1 yards per carry, mind you and nine touchdowns. The senior had a run of six-straight 100-yard performances in 2021, including a 163-yard day in the CIAA championship game.

The Bulldogs were a balanced team in 2021, leading DII in defensive scores as well as having that tough offense. Wilkins was an unquestioned leader in a historic Bowie State season as the Bulldogs ran off a 12-2 record, claiming a third straight CIAA title and the programs first trips to both the national quarterfinals and semifinals.

Before we jump into Super Region Threes Harlon Hill candidates, lets acknowledge another award winner in the region. Ferris States offensive lineman Dylan Pasquali was the recipient of the 2021 Gene Upshaw Award, presented annually to the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in DII football. Pasquali is a multiple-time All-American and anchored the offensive line for one of the best offenses in the nation. He is the second consecutive Bulldog to win the award.

TJ Davis, Nebraska-Kearney: What a special talent. Davis finished the season as one of two quarterbacks at any level to finish the season with 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing. He threw for 2,234 yards and rushed for 1,139 with 40 total touchdowns one of which came as a receiver as the Lopers made the DII football tournament for the first time since 2011.

Davis has become the face of the Last Second Lopers since he stepped on the field in his 2019 freshman debut. He led UNK to an upset of Northwest Missouri State and a bowl appearance as a freshman in 2019. This season, he not only pulled off several last-second victories but led the Lopers on the road to upset Western Colorado in the first round of the DII football playoffs a game won, of course, in the final seconds.

Al McKeller, Northwest Missouri State: McKeller is no stranger to hearing his name called this time of year. This is the running backs third nomination for the Harlon Hill Trophy, with the previous two coming at UIndy. There, he rewrote the record books, leaving the GLVC as the conferences all-time leading rusher and rushing touchdown leader.

Al McKeller (@Almckeller2) breaks his way to the end zone to make sure the Bearcats stay alive. This is a good one in Big Rapids, Ferris State up 20-13 in the 2nd. #D2FB @bearcatsports @ByJonWalker pic.twitter.com/RVSFxlut90

He took his talents to Maryville this season and had yet another monster year. He ran for 1,601 yards for the Bearcats, scoring 19 touchdowns on the ground and one more through the air. McKeller went on to earn an invite to the 2021 FCS Bowl where he earned Overall MVP honors. He is one of the most decorated running backs of the 2000s and the Harlon Hill is just about the only individual accolade he is missing.

Brandon Alt, Bemidji State: What a season for Alt and the Beavers. Alt not only led Bemidji State to its first-ever DII football tournament appearance but orchestrated an upset in the first round once there. Alt is the first Bemidji State player to ever be a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, and his numbers and the Beavers historic season are the large reason why.

Alt threw for 4,245 yards and 46 touchdowns this year as Bemidji State went 10-3. He threw for 300 yards eight times in 13 games with back-to-back six touchdown games on Oct. 23 and 30. One of those games was against regionally ranked Minnesota Duluth. His 46 touchdown passes are the new NSIC standard and he rewrote the single-season program records in his monster campaign. Alt threw for 326 yards and three scores in the Beavers' historic playoff win against NSIC rival Augustana (SD).

Michael Zeman, Colorado School of Mines: It was another strong campaign for the Orediggers bulldozing running back. Its hard to imagine improving on Zemans breakout 1,400-yard, 12-touchdown 2019, but that is exactly what the Mines star back did in 2021. He rushed for 1,608 yards and 21 touchdowns, both of which were top-5 marks in DII football. He also added five receiving touchdowns to his resume, one of which a 39-yard catch-and-run screen was pivotal in securing the Orediggers first-ever win in the national quarterfinals.

Zeman and Mines quarterback John Matocha were one of the toughest backfield combos in DII, leading the Orediggers to a season of historic proportions. It was the Mines first-ever trip to the semifinals, where an inspired 14-0 fourth-quarter comeback fell just short of advancing to the championship game. Zeman ran for 105 yards in that game, his 11th 100-yard performance of the season. Should Zeman win the award, he will be the third Oredigger to do so, joining Chad Friehauf in 2010 and Justin Dvorak in 2016.

Originally posted here:

DII football player of the year: Tyson Bagent wins the 2021 Harlon Hill Trophy - NCAA.com

If you managed to stay up late, you probably already knew: The very first moments of 2021 arrived with weird vibes. New Yorks traditional New Years Eve celebration was uncharacteristically muted. No sloppy kissing crowds jammed into Times Square, no messy bar crawls through the streets.

As the year ticked on, we had no boners and we had no bones: Noodle the pug, a dog in a perpetual state of melting, showed up on TikTok skillfully illustrating the limp limbs of limbo. Given a chance to get out of bed, Noodle would often crumple with ennui. So did many of us.

Signs of disruption turned up from the start. The U.S. Capitol was attacked by rioters on Jan. 6, including a shirtless man wearing a horned helmet, people waving Confederate flags, someone in a sweatshirt with the words Camp Auschwitz on it and others wielding red-and-white flags representing the Republic of Georgia.

Just two days later, as the country caught a breath, an angsty song about a drivers license became the anthem we didnt know we needed. On Jan. 20, Twitter and Instagram were saturated with memes of Senator Bernie Sanders in a folding chair with his arms and legs crossed, hand-knit mittens on display. Waiting patiently for it all to end.

By March, after one full year of the global pandemic, 500,000 Americans had died from Covid-19. The rest of us were mired in the quicksand of limbo. Limbo as in waiting, limbo as in neither here nor there, limbo as in bending over backward in an attempt to move forward beneath a bar that continues to fall lower and lower.

There was a sense that those of us who had survived had perhaps gotten through the worst of it. We were alive!

But we were not exactly flourishing. We had soured on baking sourdough, and unless you accidentally joined a Zoom meeting as a wide-eyed kitten, the delicious zeal of, I work from home! had frayed into the more bitter-tasting, I live at work.

Limbo can be fun, though, right? Chubby Checker sang a bouncy Caribbean-flavored song about it! Every limbo boy and girl, all around the limbo world gonna do the limbo rock, all around the limbo clock. Just lean back and advance carefully: Thats the way you play. So we tried.

But the vaccine had not yet been approved for children and uncertainty about school loomed. And just when we thought wed gotten a handle on all of the viruss idiosyncrasies and mastered some epidemiological terminology? Behold, the Delta variant.

Each new development required additional time for processing, yet nothing added up. Weed was legalized in a bunch of states, but Daft Punk split up? Spaceships from China and the United Arab Emirates went to Mars, but I May Destroy You was snubbed at the Golden Globe Awards? The government admitted U.F.O.s exist but also confessed we dont know where they come from? What was happening?

Trapped in what felt like an everlasting loop, one day indistinguishable from the next, some experts labeled the collective feeling of joyless aimlessness. They called it languishing. But the trigger for the pandemic blahs was really the feeling of being paralyzed.

At the end of March, a large container ship called the Ever Given sailed into the Suez Canal and got stuck. We said: SAME. At that point who among us couldnt identify with being grounded, unable to pivot, out of control enough to cause an international incident?

After six days, the boat became unstuck; we did not. The days churned on. Waiting, waiting everywhere. Waiting for vaccine slots, waiting at gas lines, waiting for passports, waiting at borders. Would there be a return to office? Wed have to wait and see.

Dante describes limbo as a valley so deep you cant see the bottom, a woeful abyss that gathers in thunder of infinite wailings. We slogged through, with no end in sight, and there was wailing.

Chugging along, we rode a roller coaster of emotional ups and downs at breakneck speed, some within the same news cycle: ShaCarri Richardson waited an entire additional year for the Olympic trials, qualified as Americas fastest woman, tested positive for marijuana and was suspended for a month, just to miss the Olympics altogether. OnlyFans banned explicit content, then reversed that decision. Very rich men left the planet; then immediately returned.

We were promised a hot vaxx summer with wild assumptions about what that might mean but it never materialized; instead, we got a fiery inferno on a body of water. We were not in the mood.

Limbo lower now! How low can you go?

As we settled into our second pandemic fall, we were informed of unsavory details about one of the few ways we have to connect during limbo, social media. To delete or not to delete? Lets just wait and see. But then Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp went down. For hours. Leaving billions of us in communication limbo. Undeterred, we gathered around screens to get some relief by watching contestants attempt to survive prison-limbo in the ultraviolent Squid Game.

Now, Omicron is on the horizon or at our front doors wreaking havoc and panic in corners of media, and winter is creeping in to cloak us in chill and darkness. But theres a teeny glimmer of hope: Tourists are trickling back into New York and New Years Eve in Times Square is expected to return at full strength.

What will 2022 bring? Neither historical data nor an oracle pug can actually predict the future. We might not be in the clear just yet, but at least we now have a lot of practice. Heres a toast to raising the bar again.

The rest is here:

The Year in Limbo - The New York Times

Emma Raducanu was crowned this years Sports Personality of the Year winner, seeing off the likes of Adam Peaty and Tom Daley to bag the prize. While BBC viewers were unanimous in their praise for the teenage tennis star, it was a pair of other awards earlier in the ceremony which sparked uproar online. The mens England football team bagged Team of the Year while managerGareth Southgate landed the Coach of the Year gong - but its safe to say many felt their loss in the Euro 2020 final didnt warrant the accolade.

It has been an incredible year for the England team and Southgate as together they took the country to its first major tournament final in over 50 years, in which they lost to Italy.

However, both parties faced fierce opposition in their respective categories - from Team GB Olympics winner to Thomas Tuchels Champions League victory.

So when it transpired Southgate and England had both won, many SPOTY viewers werent impressed.

Taking to Twitter following the wins, Twitter user @DMCI689908 expressed their dismay: Just turned on sports personality of the year saw England football team win team of the year. Just turned off #SPOTY.

READ MORE:Alex Scott appearance distracts SPOTY viewers with eye-catching dress

While @DragonWales9 firmly put: What has happened to SPOTY?! Losing all credibility. Team of the yearreally! Coach of the yearreally! In an Olympic year a team that comes 2nd contributes to two of the main awards.

And Andy Rockall weighed in: Team of the Year, Coach of the year - Dreadful decision. Good coach, nice guy. P**s poor choice.#SPOTY."

Former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan even got involved, tweeting: "The #SPOTY Team of the Year award going to a team that didnt win anything perfectly epitomises the absurd new fad of celebrating sporting losers. Theres more kudos/silverware to be had in failing or quitting than actually coming first."

The handing of the prizes came as Hannah Cockroft joined Alex Scott and Gary Lineker on stage to hand over the award for Team of the Year.

DON'T MISS:Emma Raducanu speaks out after winning BBC SPOTYRod Stewart sparks Royal Variety backlash after 'awful' performanceCoronation Street's George and Eileen Grimshaw over for good?

In the shortlist alongside the England team were Team GB Swimming, Chelsea FC Men, Chelsea FC Women, England Womens Rugby Union, GB Wheelchair Rugby, Gordon Reid and Alfie Hewitt, Manchester City Men, Team Europe (Golf), St Helens Womens Team and St Helens Mens Team.

After England were announced as winners, Southgate and was joined on stage with player Jude Bellingham and coach Steve Holland to accept the award.

Lineker then kept the trio on stage to announce the Coach of the Year Award, reeling off Southgates fellow nominees beforehand.

They included Catriona Matthew, Emma Hayes, Thomas Tuchel, Mel Marshall and Jane Figueiredo.

After winning both awards, Southgate praised his fellow nominees before paying tribute to those who with England behind the scenes.

"I know a lot of the coaches there who are outstanding, weve got some brilliant talent in this country," he told Lineker and Scott.

"I cant do that without Steve in particular, without all the staff that work with the team.

"Managing in football now is a very complex business and yeah, so Im very fortunate I work with very talented people and they make it easier for me."

The Sports Personality of the Years Awards are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.

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SPOTY backlash erupts as Southgate and England team bag major awards Didnt win anything' - Express

The conversation changed significantly after The Timess Framing Britney Spears and Controlling Britney Spears, as well as Erin Lee Carrs Netflix documentary, Britney vs Spears.

In a matter of months, people who were unaware or indifferent to Ms. Spearss personal life were roped in. Ultimately, the pop stars personal trajectory and her public perception turned around.

She wasnt alone. This was a year of revisiting, reconsidering and in some cases, trying to rescue women who were famous or infamous in the past.

Princess Diana, an object of aggressive international media fascination when she was alive, had a posthumous cultural moment with both a Hollywood movie and a Broadway show for better or worse that reconsidered her legacy as a princess, an icon and a human being.

Monica Lewinsky was portrayed with sympathy by Beanie Feldstein on American Crime Story. Ms. Lewinsky herself was a producer for the project.

Anita Hills press tour for her book about gender violence became an occasion to reconsider the ways she had been written about in the wake of her 1992 testimony against Clarence Thomas.

And Sinead OConnor, another 90s punchline for years, wrote a memoir that prompted a fresh look.

Of course, many of the wrongs inflicted on our female celebrities have not been accounted for. But this year was an indication that there may be an appetite to try to get things right.

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The Biggest Celebrities of 2021 - newsconcerns