Jay Williams is a former NBA player who has been able to make a living on ESPN. Overall, he is certainly someone with an interesting perspective. Although, he can be quite polarizing. Some love him because he defends the players from slander. However, on numerous occasions, he can be seen coddling the players and refusing to really critique them. Ultimately, it is a similar trap to what JJ Redick has been going through. That is especially true as they are on First Take, which is all about hot takes.
Overall, First Take is eating right now thanks to the fact that the NBA Finals start tonight. Of course, fans are very excited for the Denver Nuggets to take on the Miami Heat. It should be an interesting series, although most believe the Nuggets will win this one easily. After all, they come into this series with the number one seed, while the Heat barely got into the postseason. While the Heat have played extremely well, one would have to assume that it all ends here.
Subsequently, with the Finals starting tonight, Jay Williams gave his opinion on the series. Unsurprisingly, he is taking the Denver Nuggets in this series. However, he went far with it as he claimed that this would be a full sweep. He doesn’t expect the Heat to get a single win in the series. Of course, this raised a few eyebrows, including those of Stephen A. Smith, who truly seemed shocked.
When you take into consideration the will and determination of Jimmy Butler, you would have to assume that the Heat could steal at least one game. However, the Nuggets will be determined to wrap this up fast. Nikola Jokic has a lot to prove, and he wants to prove why he should have been MVP. Let us know what you think of Jay Williams and his hot take, down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more sports news.
Some of our favorite Hip Hop pioneers are going all out for the culture’s 50th anniversary. Nas’s company Mass Appeal has been instrumental in honoring the ongoing impact of Hip Hop throughout the year. They are hosting events highlighting the significant contributions of those that laid the foundation of what we know as Rap today. Another company that has long supported the culture and its artists is Sprite, and they’re back with another campaign. This time, they’ve called on the likes of some Rap heavyweights to celebrate, showcasing various generations of Hip Hop.
One of those artists is music legend Rakim, and this isn’t the first time he has partnered with Sprite. The 2015 “Obey Your Verse” campaign highlighted his unmatched lyricism, along with other standouts, including Missy Elliott, Drake, Tupac Shakur, and J. Cole. The following year, “The God Emcee” appeared in the “Obey Your Verse – Lyrical Collection” commercials, and now, he returns once again for the soda brand’s latest. This time, he even joins Nas, Latto, and GloRilla for an updated chopped-and-screwed version of Sugarhill Gang’s classic 1979 hit, “Rapper’s Delight.”
We were able to catch up with Rakim and spoke with him about the “dope campaign from Sprite,” as he put it. He told us that the company has been “supporting Hip Hop from Day One,” so it made sense for him to link with them again. “We’re celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop,” said the legendary emcee. “We all—it’s dope—we all spit bars from ‘Rapper’s Delight.’ You know, we kind of did it in our own way. Everybody kind of took a bar from ‘Rapper’s Delight.’ And it’s just showing the growth of Hip Hop from there to here.”
Music has surrounded Rakim since he was a child. His aunt, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ruth Brown, was a legend in her own right. She was instrumental in helping Atlantic Records become what it is today and even earned herself two Grammys. Although he’s been penning rhymes since before his age hit double digits, a teenage William Michael Griffin Jr. had football aspirations. However, after a chance meeting with DJ Eric B., their lives would be catapulted in a different direction.
The rapper would later change his stage moniker to “Rakim Allah” after joining the 5 Percent Nation, or The Nation of Gods and Earths. With Eric B., the pair of talents would go on to craft four monumental albums, from their 1987 mega-classic Paid in Full to their final as a duo, 1992’s Don’t Sweat The Technique. In those early days of Hip Hop, DJ-rapper duos were the norm, but no one paired as effortlessly as Eric B. and Rakim. The formidable emcee continued his solo career throughout the 1990s and into the 2000s, culminating in 2009 with his final stand-alone record, The Seventh Seal.
Although he hasn’t given us a complete project in some time, Rakim hasn’t been down for the count. A select few have secured a verse or two within the last few years, further showing his ability to adapt to any generation. His mentorship with other artists and resounding impact on Hip Hop culture is also palpable. Across the Rap board, lyricists have cited Rakim as a cornerstone of inspiration. His wordplay, rhyme schemes, and ability to reflect his personal and political world perspective poetically have influenced celebrated artists that came after him. Unsurprisingly, the likes of Eminem, Tupac, Ghostface Killah, J. Cole, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar have all cited the Rap legend as someone they’ve long admired.
That said, it’s clear that Rakim has been an active participant in and observer of Hip Hop for decades. Not many are afforded such a unique vantage point, so we wanted to know what the Hip Hop icon wants to see from the genre in the next five decades.
“I’m looking forward to…man,” he began. Then, there was a slight pause as he gathered his thoughts. “I think, with the 50th-year anniversary, I think it’s kind of taken a lid off of Hip Hop.” To him, it seems casting a vision for the future requires learning about the past. “It’s taken a limit off of Hip Hop, to be able to celebrate 50 years. What we’re actually doin’ is celebrating 50 years of emceeing and DJing and B-boying, you know what I mean? So, it’s like we were going back with knowing our history on these great artists.”
He isn’t wrong; many aspects of the foundation of Hip Hop have been edged out of conversations. While some still praise our favorite pop-and-lockers, breakdancing is an art form that is respected but no longer at the Hip Hop forefront. Although DJing is still massively popular, arguably, many of those popularized creatives are more focused on producing the next hit record than discovering new sonic elements on the ones and twos. The collective needs to sit in its history to understand what is to come for its future.
IRVINE, CA – JULY 18: Rapper Rakim performs onstage at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on July 18, 2015 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
“We’ve started to realize that music is timeless. You know what I mean?” Rakim said. “You go back and listen to a song from the ’80s or the ’90s. And, you know, a lot of it’s timeless. It shouldn’t be a lid on Hip Hop.” Those artists from 20, 30, and even 40 years ago have aged with the culture. Yet, often, there are conversations about someone being “too old” to continue their Rap aspirations. However, Rakim wants it to be known that plenty of grown folk contenders with talents deserve recognition.
“There’s a lot of great artists that’s over 30, over 40,” the 55-year-old icon stated. According to some commentators, Hip Hop is a young person’s sport. “I think that we have a lot to bring to the table,” he continued. “With this going on [celebrating Hip Hop’s 50th], I think it’s going to open the doors for that.”
NEW YORK – 1987: Rappers Eric B & Rakim pose for a portrait session in 1987 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
These days, Rakim continues to tour worldwide, spitting familiar bars that have been ingrained in millions of memories for decades. Although Hip Hop has bolstered a reputation of being concerned about bling-bling and flashing cash, that is a far cry from Rakim’s daily routine. His dedication to his faith centers his focus, and according to him, he enjoys peace and the simple pleasures of life.
“I think normal things in life is what makes me feel good. I’m a family man,” he said. “I mean, I love being around my family. And I love doing things around my house. You know what I mean? Everything from putting floors and cutting grass, planting trees. You know, I do it all. But that’s kind of, you know, when I come home from off the road.” Touring and performing for four decades can take its toll. “That’s what kind of makes me feel normal to me. So, that’s what breaks the monotony for me. Being normal, being a family man, and doing regular things. I think that’s what keeps me grounded.”
Stay updated with us throughout the year as we continue to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary. We have many more exclusives from artists, ranging from the culture’s coveted pioneers to its talented newcomers.
Kanye West is reportedly $25million richer after the remaining Yeezy stock from his fractured partnership with adidas sold out on its first day at rapid pace.
Scar Lip’s meteoric rise caught the attention of stars like Cardi B and Snoop Dogg, and now her hard work has paid off thanks to a new deal with Epic Records.
Keeping track of all the new albums coming out in a given month is a big job, but we’re up for it: Below is a comprehensive list of the major releases you can look forward to in June. If you’re not trying to potentially miss out on anything, it might be a good idea to keep reading.
Friday, June 2
The Aces — I’ve Loved You For So Long (Red Bull Records)
American Nightmare — Dedicated to the Next World EP (Heartworm Press)
Ashnikko — WEEDKILLER (WB/Parlophone)
Avenged Sevenfold — Life Is But a Dream… (Warner)
Baxter Dury — I Thought I Was Better Than You (Piccadilly Records)
Beach Fossils — Bunny (Bayonet Records)
Ben Folds — What Matters Most (New West Records)
Ben Harper — WIDE OPEN LIGHT (Chrysalis Records)
Big Time Rush — Another Life (Bought The Rights)
Bob Dylan — Shadow Kingdom (Columbia)
Body Type — Expired Candy (Poison City)
Bongzilla — Dab City (Heavy Psych Sounds Records)
Brandt Brauer Frick — Multi Faith Prayer Room (Because Music)
Buckcherry — Vol. 10 (Round Hill Music)
Bully — Lucky For You (Sub Pop)
Corey Kent — Blacktop (RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville)
Cowboy Junkies — Such Ferocious Beauty (Latent Recordings)
Craig Strickland — Lost in the Rewind EP (MNRK Music Group)
Cowboys in the Campfire — Wronger (Cobraside)
Drew Parker — At the End of the Dirt Road EP (Warner Music Nashville)
Foo Fighters — But Here We Are (Roswell/RCA)
Generationals — Heatherhead (Polyvinyl)
Gringo Star — On And On And Gone (My Anxious Mouth)
Half Moon Run — Salt (BMG)
Hallan — The Noise of a Firing Gun EP (Nice Swan Records)
The Hollywood Vampires — Live In Rio (Ear Music)
Jack Johnson — In Between Dub (Republic Records)
Jake Shears — Last Man Dancing (Piccadilly Records)
Jelly Roll — WHITSITT CHAPEL (BMG/Stoney Creek Records)
John Mellencamp — Orpheus Descending (Republic Records)
Joshua Radin — though the world will tell me so, volume 2 EP (Nettwerk)
Juan Wauters — Wandering Rebel (Captured Tracks)
Kenny Rogers — Life Is Like a Song (UMe)
Lanterns on the Lake — Versions of Us (Bella Union)
Laura Wolf — Shelf Life (Whatever’s Clever)
Linda Gail Lewis — A Tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis (Cleopatra)
Chase Matthew — Come Get Your Memory (Warner Music Nashville)
Christine and the Queens — PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE (Because Music)
Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen — Past Lives (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (A24 Music)
Colby Acuff — Western White Pines (Sony Music)
Conor Maynard — +11 Hours (self-released)
Cooper Wolken — Chapters (Earth Libraries)
Crashing Wayward — Listen! (RFK Media)
Curtis Waters — Bad Son (BMG)
Dead Quiet — IV (Artoffact Records)
decker. — Ouroboros (Royal Potato Family)
The Defiants — Drive (Frontiers Music Srl)
Dominic Sen — Apparition (Grind Select)
Dream Wife — Social Lubrication (Lucky Number)
Dudu Tassa and Jonny Greenwood — Jarak Qaribak (World Circuit Records/BMG)
Emotional Oranges — Still Emo (Avant Garden)
Extreme — Six (earMUSIC)
feeble little horse — Girl with Fish (Saddle Creek)
Flawes — One Step Back, Two Steps Forward (Red Bull Records)
Future Utopia — We Were We Still Are EP (The Orchard/70Hz)
GELD — Currency // Castration (Relapse)
George FitzGerald — Not As I EP (Domino)
Hak Baker — Worlds End FM (Hak Attack Records)
headboy — Was It What You Thought (Blitzcat Records)
The High Water Marks — Your Next Wolf (Minty Fresh)
J Hacha De Zola — Without A Tribe (Caballo Negro)
Janelle Monaé — The Age of Pleasure (Atlantic Records)
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit — Weathervanes (Southeastern Records)
Jayda G — Guy (Ninja Tune)
Jeff Clarke — Locust (Bretford Records)
Jenny Lewis — Joy’All (Blue Note/Capitol Records)
Jess Williamson — Time Ain’t Accidental (Mexican Summer)
Jimmy Whispers — The Search For God (Carpark Records)
Keaton Henson — House Party (PIAS Recordings)
King Krule — Space Heavy (XL Recordings/Matador Records)
Lightning Dust — Nostalgia Killer (Western Vinyl)
lophiile — The Good Days Between (Bluewerks)
Lontalius — Life on the Edge of You (Kartel Music)
Love and Rockets — My Sweet Twin (Beggars Arkive)
Luke Sital-Singh — Strange Weather EP (Nettwerk)
Maps — Counter Mixes (Mute)
Michael David — Talking Book World EP (Cascine)
My Morning Jacket — MMJ Live Vol. 3: Bonnaroo 2004 (Return to Thunderdome) (ATO Records)
Niall Horan — The Show (Neon Haze Capitol)
Nicholas Allbrook — Manganese (Sub Pop)
Noah Kahan — Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) (Mercury Records/Republic Records)
Nora Stanley & Benny Bock — Assembling (Colorfield Records)
Odonis Odonis — Icon EP (Felte Records)
Olof Dreijer + Mt Sims — Souvenir (Rabid Records)
Pantayo — Ang Pagdaloy (Sub Pop)
Public Body — Big Mess (Fat Cat)
Queen of Swords — Year 8 (Get Better Records)
Ray Adler — II (InsideOut Music)
Rob Grant — Lost At Sea (Interscope)
Sarah Kinsley — Ascension EP (Verve Forecast/Decca Records UK)
SB19 — PAGTATAG! EP (Sony Music Philippines)
Sivu — Wild Horse Running (Square Leg Records)
Squid — O Monolith (Warp)
TEKE::TEKE — Hagata (Kill Rock Stars)
This Is The Kit — Careful of Your Keepers (Rough Trade Records)
The View — Exorcism of Youth (Cooking Vinyl)
Wombo — Slab EP (Fire Talk Records)
Youth Lagoon — Heaven Is a Junkyard (Fat Possum)
Zylva — Poems from the Dark (Squama)
Friday, June 16
Amnesia Scanner & Freeka Tet — STROBE.RIP (PAN)
Asake — Work of Art (YBNL Nation/EMPIRE)
Balmorhea — Pendant World (Deutsche Grammophon)
Ben Chasny & Rick Tomlinson — WAVES (VOIX)
Ben Howard — Is It? (Island Records)
binki — Antennae EP (The Fader Label)
Bonny Doon — Let There Be Music (ANTI‐)
Bright Eyes — Cassadaga: A Companion EP (Dead Oceans)
Bright Eyes — Noise Floor (Rarities 1998 — 2005): A Companion EP (Dead Oceans)
Bright Eyes — The People’s Key: A Companion EP (Dead Oceans)
Chocolate Hills — Yarns from the Chocolate Triangle (Cooking Vinyl)
Cole Blue — Crushed! EP (Chess Club)
Damian Lewis — Mission Creep (Decca)
Deer Tick — Emotional Contracts (ATO Records)
Django Django — Off Planet (Because Music)
Donna Missal — Revel (ADA Worldwide)
The Drive-By Truckers — The Complete Dirty South (New West Records)
Ellie Dixon — In Case of Emergency EP (Decca)
Ezra Williams — Supernumeraries (AWAL)
Far From Saints — Far From Saints (Ignition)
Five Finger Death Punch — Greatest Hits (Prospect Park)
The Flaming Lips — Hypnotist EP (Warner Records)
Gov’t Mule — Peace… Like a River (Fantasy Records)
Gracie Addams — Good Riddance Deluxe (Interscope Records)
Hand Habits — Sugar the Bruise (Fat Possum)
Home is Where — the whaler (Wax Bodega)
J.E. Sunde — Alice, Gloria and Jon (Vietnam Records)
Jack River — Endless Summer (Nettwerk)
Joel Hoekstra’s 13 — Crash of Life (Frontiers Music Srl)
Killer Mike — Michael (Loma Vista)
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard — PetroDragonic Apocalypse; or, Dawn of Eternal Night: An Annihilation of Planet Earth and the Beginning of Merciless Damnation (KGLW)
Kool Keith — Black Elvis 2 (Mello Music Group)
La Sécurité — Stay Safe! (Mothland)
Lorelle Meets the Obsolete — Datura (Sonic Cathedral)
Maisie Peters — The Good Witch (Gingerbread Man Records/Asylum)
Max Drazen — Someday EP (Field Trip Recordings/Capitol Records)
May Rio — French Bath (Dots Per Inch)
Meshell Ndegeocello — The Omnichord Real Book (Blue Note Records)
Modern Tales — Stars Align (Rose Avenue)
Monograms — A Fine Commitment (PaperCup Music)
Origami Angel — The Brightest Days (Counter Intuitive Records)
Wendy’s has partnered with Grammy Award-winning artist/producer T-Pain to announce the highly anticipated return of the classic Strawberry Frosty. In a creative collaboration, T-Pain remixed his iconic song “Buy U A Drank” into “Buy U A Frosty,” and a music video was released on the official Wendy’s YouTube channel. The Wendy’s – T-Pain mashup showcases […]
There has been a lot of speculation as to whether Tom Brady will unretire for a second time. “I don’t want speak for Tom, I wouldn’t rule anything out,” Troy Aikman speculated. “I would bet that just nothing is off the table, as far as what may occur during the season or what Tom’s role may be.”
Furthermore, TMZ went as far as to confirm with the NFL if Brady would be able to play for the Raiders. Brady recently purchased a minority ownership stake in the team. Additionally, the Raiders QB room is a little shaky heading into offseason training. According to an NFL spokesperson who answer questions from TMZ, as long as Brady passes two votes from the NFL owners, he could both own the Raiders and start under center for them. However, Tom Brady has now come out to set the record straight.
No Return Says Brady
“I’m certain I’m not playing again, so I’ve tried to make that clear and I hate to continue to profess that, cause I’ve already told people that lots of times,” Brady told Sports Illustrated on Thursday. Later in the day, Brady told ESPN in an interview with SportsCenter that becoming a part-time NFL owner is a “dream come true. I want to be involved in the NFL for the next 45 years of my lfe.”
Brady also spoke about his relationship with his long-time coach Bill Belichick while appearing on ESPN. “He very much trusted what I was out there doing in the field, and it went both ways. Ultimately our success was because so many people in the organization, as coach Belichick always said, ‘do your job,’ and I did as quarterback and leader,” Brady said. Furthermore, he noted that Belichick “was one of the first people to text me after we won the Super Bowl in Tampa.” This seemed to put to bed any rumors that there was bad blood between the pair. However, it appears that Brady wants to be very clear that he is not coming back to the NFL in a playing capacity anytime soon. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.
Papoose recently shared a sweet message to his wife, Remy Ma, in celebration of her birthday. He posted a carousel of photos of himself and his wife on Instagram, telling her, “Happy born day to 1 of the best mothers/wives I know.” He added, “We too solid!! They can’t penetrate steel with wood babe,” calling her “The Queen of all Queens.”
The Instagram shoutout wasn’t the first time Papoose expressed his feelings for Remy Ma. Earlier this month, he appeared on an episode of Listen To Black Men, where he shared his thoughts on marriage. “When you get married, you take wedding vows,” he claimed. The rapper went on to say, “He has to honor his queen. If she disagrees with something, he has to take her perspective into consideration going forward. He can’t just totally disregard her point of view.” He also discussed jealousy, citing his wife’s acting appearances alongside other men. “It’s just a job. It’s just the workplace. I would never feel insecure about that,” he revealed, “We talking about a situation where everybody [is] being respectable and doing their job and keeping it moving.”
Papoose also showed his respect for the undertaking of motherhood recently. In another appearance on Listen To Black Men, he and Dave Eastdiscussed postpartum depression, and expectations of women after giving birth. “When a woman gives birth, it’s a big deal,” Papoose explained. “I think that as a man, you gotta understand what your woman just went through and you really gotta be patient and roll out that red carpet and you really gotta play a whole different role. I mean she just had a baby. You can’t expect her to go to the f***ing club.”
The pair recently celebrated 15 years of marriage, and Papoose, again, put his love on display. He shared a post on social media, writing, “Happy ‘FIFTEENTH YEAR’ year wedding anniversary to my beautiful, smart, wife!!” The rapper added, “Woww We’ve laughed together, cried together, lost together, won together. Through it all we stayed ‘TOGETHER.’ Togetherness/unity is powerful! She’s the best wife a man could ask for. Make sure y’all wish her well.” He added, “God is the greatest!! #15 #blacklove.”
Kanye West is facing a lawsuit after allegedly throwing a photographer’s phone into the street following an argument. The photographer claimed that Kanye targeted her and other paparazzi members in a fit of anger, leading to the incident. Now, she is suing Kanye for assault, battery, and negligence. According to Nichol Lechmanik, the photographer filing […]
