From Sweden to the World: “Starmony Voices” Sets the Tone in Collaborative Music-Making using AI

Photo by Fredrik Mårdh

The Swedish music tech innovator Starmony just launched “Starmony Voices” – a concept that redefines the future of music-making by allowing anyone in their community, and beyond, to share their voice and collaborate with the help of AI technology. Photo by Fredrik Mårdh Stockholm, Sweden, March 04, 2024: Starmony, a leading Swedish music tech company, … Read more

SOURCE SPORTS: Cuban-Born Red Sox Legend Luis Tiant Passes Away At 83

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The baseball world is saddened after confirming the news of the passing of pitching icon Luis Tiant, who was known for his signature, almost turnaround windup, passed away today at his home in Maine according to a statement from Tiant’s former team, the Boston Red Sox. 

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“Luis had the kind of unforgettable presence that made you feel like you were part of his world,” said Red Sox principal owner John Henry in a statement. “He was a pitcher with incredible talent, accomplishing so much with a style uniquely his own. But what truly set Luis apart was his zest for life, embracing every moment with an infectious spirit, even in the face of his many challenges. He channeled everything into his love for the game and the people around him. He was magnetic and had a smile that could light up Fenway Park. Luis was truly one of a kind and all of us at the Red Sox will miss him.”

The Cuban-born hurler spent 19 seasons in the majors, finishing with a career record of 229-172 with a 3.30 ERA, pitching for Cleveland (1964-69), Minnesota (’70), Boston (’71-78), the Yankees (’79-80), Pittsburgh (’81) and the Angels (’82). The three-time All Star never made it to Cooperstown, but the son of Negro Leagues legend Luis Tiant Sr. only had one goal while growing up as a child in Cuba; to follow in his father’s footsteps. Because of the political climate of Cuba and professional sports being prohibited by Castro in 1959, the senior Tiant warned his son in a letter he wrote to him during his time as a burgeoning pitcher in Mexico City.

“Don’t come home. Castro is not going to allow any more professional sports here — no baseball or boxing. If you do come home, I don’t think you’ll be able to get out again. They are not letting many people leave the island, especially young men of military age.”

In 1964, Tiant got his major league break when Cleveland requested a starter for a July 19 game at Yankee Stadium against a team that was in the middle of a dynasty. Tiant pitched a four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts while outhurling the legendary Whitey Ford. 

“I was not nervous, but had a little tension,” Tiant said in a 2009 documentary about his life, “Lost Son of Havana. You’re pitching against best team in baseball, you’re a rookie. That day was my day. They let me do what my father couldn’t do.”

“Luis had a style of pitching that was as memorable as it was effective, but to me, the rarer gift was his ability to lift you up with just a smile,” said Red Sox president & CEO Sam Kennedy in a statement. “When you were with him, you were reminded of what really matters. Whether you were a teammate, a fan, or just someone fortunate enough to share a conversation, Luis had a way of making you feel special, like you were a close friend.”

“His legacy on the mound is undeniable, but all of us today are mourning the man, the friend, the mentor who connected generations of fans and players. I am gutted by the news of his passing and will miss him more than words can express. Spring Training won’t be the same without Luis’s infectious energy spreading throughout camp.”

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Scarface Gives Update Following Open Heart Surgery

Scarface is Looking for Kidney Donors Following COVID-19 Aftermath

After undergoing a mandatory open heart surgery, Houston Hip Hop legend Brad “Scarface” Jordan gave an optimistic update to his fans about his current health condition, giving his thanks while recovimg from a procedure that he says “could’ve went either way”.

“6wks ago I underwent open heart surgery, to be upright and smiling today shows you that God aint nothing to play with,” he wrote alongside a photo of him looking both happy and dapper at the Grandmaster Awards in Las Vegas this past weekend.

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Back in August, Face posted a pic of himself in a hospital bed in one of Houston Methodist Hospital’s facilities with several machines and nodules attached to his body. The former Def Jam South president didn’t disclose why he was hospitalized, but wrote in the caption, “Ouch… [three prayer hands emojis] Grateful.”

In celebration of his latest health prognosis, Scarface made an appearance at the Paid In Full Foundation’s Grandmaster Awards in Las Vegas, where the Geto Boy was honored alongside Hip Hop pioneers Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz and Roxanne Shanté.

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NY Jets Fire Head Coach Robert Saleh After 20-36 Record, Owner’s Statement: ‘Best time for us to move in a different direction’

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Whelp, that didn’t last. The New York Jets have officially parted ways with head coach Robert Saleh. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the decision was communicated to Saleh at approximately 10 a.m. ET. Team owner Woody Johnson soon issued a statement confirming the firing and announced that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich would serve as the interim head coach moving forward.

Saleh’s rocky tenure with the Jets, which began in 2021, was marked by challenges, and the team has started this season 2-3. Despite high expectations, Saleh was unable to deliver a winning season during his time as head coach.

Here’s the statement from Woody Johnson:

In fairness, Saleh had garnered significant attention when he was hired, following his successful four-year stint as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. He came into the Jets organization with a clean slate but faced a significant challenge early on: the team had no established quarterback but held the No. 2 overall pick in the upcoming draft. The Jets selected Zach Wilson, who ultimately did not meet expectations and became a notable disappointment for the franchise. Although it’s unclear how much input Saleh had in that draft decision, he was left to navigate the consequences.

Get this, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that Saleh was caught off guard by his dismissal. Interesting. Team owner Woody Johnson later explained to reporters that the team’s aspirations were high, and Saleh failed to meet those expectations. Makes sense but surprise firings, if it was in fact that, always sting.

What’s more in the weeks leading up to his dismissal, there were reports of internal struggles. CBS’ Jonathan Jones reported that Saleh had been considering firing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, a coach favored by quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However, SNY TV’s Connor Hughes suggested that Saleh was only looking to demote Hackett, not dismiss him outright.

When you think about it, Saleh’s fortunes seemed to be on the upswing when the Jets traded for Aaron Rodgers before the 2023 season. Despite being 39 years old, Rodgers still had the ability to elevate the team, and Saleh finally had a top-tier quarterback to work with. However, Rodgers’ season ended abruptly when he tore his Achilles just four plays into the first game, forcing Saleh to revert to Wilson as the starter. After three years of waiting to prove himself with a capable quarterback, Saleh was only given five games with Rodgers before his tenure was cut short.

Looking back, Saleh’s time with the Jets spanned only 56 games, finishing with a 20-36 record. Reflecting on his time with the team, one can’t help but wonder how different his trajectory might have been if he had more stability at quarterback. Had he started with even a league-average quarterback instead of Wilson, would the Jets be in a different position today? That question remains unanswered, but it’s clear that the Jets’ organization had reached its limit with Saleh.

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Tyler, The Creator Cooks Elon Musk By Changing Concert Lyrics: Watch

Tyler, The Creator says and does what he wants. He has undergone several phases, in terms of his subject matter and musicality, but the one constant is his irreverent sense of humor. If Tyler, The Creator has a problem with somebody, they are going to know it. Case in point, the rapper’s recent performance at ACL Fest. He performed a version of his classic 2017 song “911/Mr. Lonely,” but instead of referencing Elon Musk in a positive light, as he did on the recording, he flipped the lyrics to diss Musk.

Musk has become persona non grata in popular culture. He’s become one of the most memed and mocked celebrities in the world, and Tyler, The Creator has taken note. The original lyrics on “911/Mr. Lonely” are seemingly indifferent to Musk. The rapper works the Tesla founder into his verse because it worked with the rhyme scheme and the bar about not requiring gas. “Can’t see straight, these shades are Céline Dion,” he raps. “Sucks you can’t gas me up, shout out to Elon… Musk, yeah I got a sold out show. Crowd wild out but don’t matter ’cause you not front row.” Tyler didn’t want it to sound like he shouted out the controversial X (formerly Twitter) owner, though, and made an aggressive change.

Read More: Tyler, The Creator Blasts Fans For Spreading False Album Rumors

Tyler, The Creator Used To Be A Huge Musk Fan

“Man f*ck Elon,” Tyler, The Creator rapped to an ecstatic crowd. The rapper change of heart is not uncommon. Musk used to be a semi-popular figure to praise/reference. In 2016, Tyler even heaped praise on Musk for providing an electric alternative to gas powered vehicles. Ironically, the praise was through the app that Musk would eventually purchase, Twitter. “@elonmusk I LOVE YOU THANK YOU FOR CHANGING THE WORLD,” he wrote. “AND MAKING THE EVIL OIL MEN WHO RUN THE WORLD HATE YOU.” Tyler truly adored Musk during the mid-2010s, and would even have exchanges with the inventor on the platform.

Tyler also praised Musk during a 2015 appearance on Hot 97. The rapper was there to promote his album, Cherry Bomb, but he went off book and decided to shine a light on Musk’s achievements. He even compared the Tesla founder to rap moguls like JAY-Z, Master P and Diddy. The last one has not aged well, from any conceivable angle, but it’s hard to hold Tyler, The Creator accountable for that. He could not have known how the last decade was going to play out. A lot of people have seemingly fallen out of love with Musk, and Tyler is at the top of the list.

Read More: Tyler The Creator Joins Cast Of New A24 Film Starring Timothee Chalamet

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Ye and Wife Bianca Censori Reunite in Tokyo Debunking Divorce Rumor Mill

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Divorce who, what, huh? Looks like Kanye West and his wife, Bianca Censori, are actively debunking recent rumors about their potential divorce by appearing together in public.

The often eye catching couple, who married in December 2022, was spotted shopping at a Tokyo mall on Tuesday, just a day after reports surfaced claiming they were headed for a split.

The supposed debunking came after a series of photographs, where the pair looked affectionate. Censori was wrapping her arm around West as they walked and even placing her hands on his face while they were on an escalator. Both were dressed in matching all-white outfits, with West sporting a long-sleeve shirt and pants, while Censori wore a cropped top and ruffled pants.

All these somewhat believable rumors of separation began after TMZ reported that the couple had informed close friends that they had broken up a few weeks earlier. The report suggested that West planned to move to Tokyo while Censori returned to her native Australia to be with family. However, their recent appearance together strongly contradicts those claims.

Anyway, West was last seen solo at a Tokyo restaurant just a week prior, fueling speculation about the couple’s status. But this latest public outing shows that the pair remains together.

To divorce or not to divorce. Who knows.

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TikTok Sued By Several States Over Adverse Effects to Mental Health of Children

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Whelp, the legal fight against TikTok rages. This time a bipartisan group of over a dozen state attorneys general, including those from New York, California, and the District of Columbia, have filed lawsuits against social media giant TikTok, citing harmful effects on teens and young users. The District of Columbia’s Attorney General Brian Schwalb, leading one of the lawsuits, accuses TikTok of misleading users by claiming its app is safe for children, despite its “addictive” features, and of operating an unlicensed virtual money transmission system. Schwalb stated, “TikTok is intentionally trying to addict young people to its platform” and referred to the app as “digital nicotine,” claiming it poses significant mental health risks, including depression, anxiety, sleep loss, and body dysmorphia.

Get this, Schwalb’s lawsuit also highlights TikTok’s virtual currency system, “TikTok Coins,” which allows users to buy virtual gifts during live streams, with streamers cashing out for real money. The lawsuit alleges that TikTok has profited substantially from this system, charging commissions as high as 50%. Schwalb contends that the platform’s lax age verification processes have allowed minors to access age-restricted features, leading to instances of exploitation.

Naturally, TikTok strongly denies these accusations, asserting in a statement, “We provide robust safeguards, proactively remove suspected underage users, and have voluntarily launched safety features such as default screen time limits, family pairing, and privacy by default for minors under 16.” The company expressed disappointment that state attorneys general chose litigation over collaboration to address industrywide concerns.

Here’s their statement on X (formerly Twitter):

This serious legal action against TikTok comes amid growing scrutiny of social media platforms for their impact on children. Similar lawsuits have been filed against other platforms, such as Snapchat and Facebook, which have faced accusations of enabling exploitation and fostering harmful content. In a broader context, TikTok is also fighting a new law that would ban the app unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells it to a non-Chinese buyer by January 19, 2024, a move TikTok argues violates the First Amendment rights of its users.

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The Game in Jeopardy of Losing Home Due to $7 Million Civil Judgement

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Here’s something to know. The Game is facing the potential loss of his Calabasas home after missing a critical court hearing related to a long-standing debt owed to Priscilla Rainey, who accused him of sexual battery.

According to documents obtained by AllHipHop, the rapper failed to attend the October 7th hearing, where he was expected to present reasons why his property should not be sold to settle the judgment. The court remarked, “The judgment debtor failed to appear or alert the court of the non-appearance,” and a decision regarding possible sanctions is expected to be issued this week.

Rainey, a former contestant on The Game’s VH1 dating show She’s Got Game, filed a lawsuit in 2015, accusing the rapper of sexual battery in an off-camera incident. In 2016, she was awarded approximately $7 million in damages. However, collecting the judgment has proven difficult, and Rainey has continued to take legal steps to recover the amount owed.

Here’s what his response was to the allegations … The Game previously posted on Instagram, claiming, “Don’t be fooled by these accusations or the dollar amount in the headlines cause I put that on my favorite aunties poodle this broad ain’t gettin s###!” He also stated that other contestants on the show could testify that he never touched Rainey and implied that her lawsuit was an attempt to retaliate after being eliminated from the competition.

As expected Rainey is using the power of the court to seek assistance in forcing The Game to sell his home to cover the judgment. She has even hired a private investigator to track him down, showing her commitment to securing the nearly $7 million judgment. Despite this, The Game has largely ignored the ongoing legal proceedings, leaving Rainey to continue her pursuit through the courts.

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Deante’ Hitchcock Is Looking To “STEP WIT IT” On His New Single

Deante’ Hitchcock may not be a big voice in the ultra-competitive Atlanta rap scene, but he sure is a damn good one. He’s extremely talented and also loves to work in different settings. What we mean is that he’ll freestyle, drop a single, feature, or album, or perform with bands/other musical groups. He can really do it all and it’s kind of a shame that he doesn’t get as much attention as a Future or Young Thug. In addition to being extremely gifted, he’s also a great ambassador for the genre. He was one of the few MC’s to show Isaiah Rashad support back when some homosexual sex tapes leaked. “Yall acting like who cuz f*** make you nut. @isaiahrashad you still a solid n**** my boi,” he wrote. Overall, there’s not much to nitpick on him and we love listening to what he’s got to offer.

In this case, we are bumping this “brand-new” joint from Deante’ Hitchcock, “STEP WIT IT.” We say “brand-new” because he actually put this on YouTube about a month ago. However, just hours ago today, Deante’ officially released it on DSPs. This single comes during a pretty dry time for him, as this is just his second solo drop of 2024. Back in June, Hitchcock gave us some introspective vibes with “On The Edge.” He’s been on a few other tracks with more lowkey talent too, but other than that, he’s remained on the down low. But he’s looking to reintroduce himself a little on this more energetic and braggadocious cut, “STEP WIT IT.” His expressive and effortless flows, matched with the funky, bouncy, and soulful saxophone-backed beat are all a load of fun. Give it a listen with the link below.

Read More: Scarface Reveals He Underwent Open Heart Surgery That “Could’ve Went Either Way”

“STEP WIT IT” – Deante’ Hitchcock

Read More: The Game’s Calabasas Home Closer Than Ever To Being Sold After He Fails To Appear In Court

[Via]

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