Erykah Badu: Hotline Bling (Drake cover)

Erykah Badu has recorded the most empowering cover yet of Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” a song that remembers an ex-lover. There’s much less hurt and confusion in Badu’s extended seven-minute rendition, which was co-written with her 17-year-old son, Seven Benjamin, and perfectly shows off her distinct jazzy, soulful voice. It even includes a mock voicemail (her own hotline) that neatly outlines the reasons why people call …

Complimenting People Makes Them Better Problem-Solvers

A new study conducted at the Harvard Business School has found that, when praised for past accomplishments, people tend to perform better at problem-solving tasks. The psychological trick is better known as “best-self activation,” and motivates people to reach the high standards they were once known, but only if they’ve recently been complimented on them. The findings are especially applicable when thinking of employee evaluations. …

The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Get Some

The prolific, controversial Anton Newcombe, frontman of the now Berlin-based The Brian Jonestown Massacre, is working on releasing new material—and calling the package, straight up, Mini Album Thingy Wingy. “Get Some” is a track the band has been performing live for some time (you can find YouTube videos dating to 2006), but the recorded version is just as good; a laid-back head-nodder that’s the perfect …