News

A group of rappers are heading into the deserts and swamps of nature in a new unscripted series for HBO.

The network has ordered Chillin Island, which is exec produced by Uncut Gems director Josh Safdie and his production partner Sebastian Bear-McClard as well as DreamCrew, the management company and entertainment group set up by Drake and Adel Future Nur.

The series is based on a radio show, described as “Howard Stern if he was on K” and variety web series set up by Alec Reinstein, otherwise known as Despot, Aleksey Weintraub, otherwise known as Lakutis and Ashok Kondabolu of Das Racist.

It will launch on December 17.

The six-part series sees the trio invite their friends to join them at the edge of nature. To commune in deserts and swamps in a valiant effort to reveal unknowable truths from the dreamstate of the shared human existence. The series features music industry icons including Young Thug,...

With spring right around the corner, the New York comedy scene is in full bloom. With so much to see and do in the city, it’s hard to decide what to check out. Here are Backstage's top picks for must-see comedy performances, events, and casting calls this month. PERFORMANCESClaudia Oshry Soffer is Girl With No Job, a digital personality who got famous by building a huge following posting memes on Instagram. Now she’s taking her internet comedy offline, promising guests a night filled with fun, games, and special guests. Oshry Soffer can be seen at Caroline’s on Broadway on March 1. (Tickets: $30) Hari Kondabolu, a comedian, and Ashok Kondabolu, an internet personality, are brothers who together make up the Untitled Kondabolu Brothers Podcast. Known for improvised stories and personal stories, the brothers can be seen recording an episode of the podcast at Littlefield on March 18. Prepare for discussions of gentrification,...