Month: April 2021

Kobe Bryant’s legendary career with the Los Angeles Lakers was well-documented and there is no denying that he had some iconic moments with the team. Kobe was drafted to the Lakers all the way back in 1996 and while he wasn’t an immediate star, there was no denying that he was a motivated player who wanted to put the team on his back. Lakers fans look back fondly on his early years with the team and having said that, it should come as no surprise that memorabilia from his rookie campaign is a hot commodity.

According to TMZ, Goldin Auctions is currently selling a game-worn jersey from Kobe’s rookie season, and the word on the street is that it will most likely sell for over $500K. That’s a whole lot of money especially when you consider how the record for a jersey sale is $570K, and that was for Michael Jordan’s last ever Wizards jersey.

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It remains to be seen how much collectors will be willing to spend on this new piece although we imagine it will come close to or exceed the record, altogether. Kobe is a legend and his memorabilia goes for a lot of money these days.

If you could get this piece into your collection, you would have something that will never go down in value.

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It feels like just yesterday that Jay-Z had unveiled Tidal and announced that artists such as Kanye West, Beyoncé, Daft Punk, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Usher, and J. Cole were also owners of the fledgling streaming service. Well, six years and plenty of Tidal bars later, Hov’s streaming service appears to be one of the best investments that he made over the past decade.

At the top of March, it was revealed that Square, Inc. would be acquiring a majority stake in Tidal for a reported $297 million. Now, Jay-Z’s deal with Square has reportedly closed and landed on a slightly larger figure at $350 million.

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According to TMZ, Square, Inc. will receive 80% ownership of Tidal, along with licensing deals with the major record labels in exchange for the hefty $350 million sum, and all of the previous artists/owners will remain with the company too. The recently pardoned Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez allegedly helped broker the deal, and TMZ reports that she will also stay on board to help run the streaming service. 

By closing this huge deal with Square, Inc., Hov has made himself and the rest of Tidal’s owners a nice chunk of change, proving once again that he’s not a businessman, he’s a business, man! Congratulations to Jay-Z on this monumental deal.

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Conway The Machine is among the few among the “new generation” of artists that actively respects and studies the craft of his predecessors. Therefore, despite being an OG in his own right, he can appreciate the wisdom of those who have achieved success and longevity in the rap game.

It’s rare to see an artist exemplify the roles of both student and teacher, but Conway leads by example behind the mic while soaking up game whenever given the opportunity. Today, the Griselda lyricist took a moment to share a picture (snapped by Conway’s creative director Made In New York) from what can only be described as a meeting of the bosses, as attended by DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, Nas, and Damson Idris. From the way the first three are dressed, it may very well have been around the time the “Sorry Not Sorry” video was shot.

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“In a room with brothers that are all richer than me.. that means I’m in the right room!!” captions Conway, showcasing the attitude of one who aspires to grow. While it’s unclear as to what was discussed, it’s clear that Conway is looking to some of the game’s most successful businessmen, with JAY-Z and Nas holding two of hip-hop’s impeccable investment portfolios. Don’t be surprised to see Machine shift his focus accordingly, having previously teased his retirement from hip-hop at some point in the future. But not, thankfully, before the release of God Don’t Make Mistakes, his anticipated Shady Records debut album.

 Check out Conway’s behind-the-scenes picture of his meeting with JAY, Nas, Khaled, and more, below. And who knows — perhaps this recent networking opportunity will lead to collaborations on future musical endeavors. 

Kobe and Gianna Bryant tragically passed away last year in a helicopter accident that certainly came as a shock to many people. Since that time, Vanessa Bryant has paid tribute to her loved ones on numerous occasions and she has done her best to keep their legacies alive. With the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, Vanessa has been able to bring a lot of money to a very good cause and in 2021, she has continued those efforts in order to give more people an opportunity when it comes to pursuing athletics.

Now, Bryant has created a Mambacita clothing collection that will be sold starting tomorrow, May 1st. This collection will feature both a hoodie and a pair of jogging pants that have a white and black marble look. The clothes say “Mambacita” on them and there are numerous references to Gigi’s basketball career. May 1st is a significant day for the Bryant family as it would have been Gigi’s 15th birthday.

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All of the proceeds from this sale will be going to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation which means if you cop some of these clothes, you will be contributing to a great cause that will also help push forward the legacy of Kobe and Gigi.

You can get a good look at these pieces, in the Instagram posts below.