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Jack Harlow Tells Us About His Upcoming All-Star Weekend Pickup Game With 2 Chainz, Lil Baby, And Quavo

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Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

Last summer, I wrote a piece about rappers who moonlight as amateur basketball players based on their Instagram posts showcasing their workouts. When I interview Louisville, Kentucky upstart Jack Harlow about his upcoming B/R Open Run showdown with fellow rap ballers 2 Chainz, Lil Baby, and Quavo, I blame Jack’s absence from that list on the dearth of hoops-related content on his Instagram page.

Save for a post promoting the song celebrating his fellow cultural outsider, “Tyler Herro,” Jack doesn’t like to advertise his roundball prowess, despite hailing from one of the sport’s legendary basketball loci. In fact, one of the few posts depicting Harlow actually playing basketball is the oldest one on his page, a grainy photo from spring 2014 of Jack defending a brawny player in what looks to be a local gym. Despite his opponent’s choice of athletic apparel — it looks very much like he’s playing basketball in jeans — Jack is the one who looks out of place, with his curly hair, baggy gym clothes, glasses, and yes, because of that glaringly obvious difference between the two men. It’s one Jack isn’t shy about pointing out, either in his music or his interviews — again, see “Tyler Herro.”

He tells me the story behind the photo as we discuss his next upcoming hoops project. The Bleacher Report event will take place during TNT’s NBA All-Star pregame coverage airing Sunday, March 7 at 5 pm ET. Harlow and fellow rap-hooper Quavo will play a game of 2-on-2 against 2 Chainz and Lil Baby — first to 21 wins. The winners will choose an HBCU to receive a donation, while the broadcast will be hosted by Taylor Rooks and DJed by LVRN DJ Kitty Cash.

During our interview, Harlow accuses me of being biased for the other team, but like everyone watching Sunday, I’m just rooting for a good game. I also find out he’s never seen White Men Can’t Jump, what he brings to the court, and whether he and Quavo have a strategy for beating the 6’7 2 Chainz.

How did this partnership come about? Why did you want to participate in this two-on-two with Quavo, 2 Chainz, Lil Baby, and Bleacher Report?

You know I’m a basketball guy, so anything involving basketball I at least keep an ear open to, and I heard there was some money involved and I like money. So there’s a few incentives.

As far as how the teams are broken up, what made you want Quavo as opposed to one of the other guys?

Well, I didn’t choose my teammate, but I got to say, I’m very happy with who I got [Ed. note: Quavo has been NBA Celebrity Game MVP]. Out of the three other players, that would be my number one choice because he brings something to the game, based on everything I’ve seen on YouTube, that I don’t bring to the game. He’s a shooter, he seemed like a ball handler. I like his confidence on the court and I think I’m going to be complimenting him perfectly with my game and some of my grit. And I’m going to let him cut.

What would you say you bring to the team?

Grit, determination, anger, passion.

I feel like these are all euphemisms for you’re going to play hard and try to D-Up. Is that what’s happening?

They’re euphemisms for we’re going to win.

I don’t know if you’re an Uproxx reader, but last summer I did a listicle about rappers who play ball, but I based them off entirely on Instagram.

I noticed I was left out of that.

When I was researching, I kicked myself because I was like, “Oh Jack Harlow’s not on here.” Then I realized you don’t have anything on your Instagram about hoops, except for one thing. I scrolled all the way back to the very beginning, the very first picture is you and some guy, he’s playing in jeans. I need to know this story. I feel like the world needs to know this story.

That’s a classic image. Yeah, I think that might be my first picture on my IG. I used to go up to this community center where I’m from called Douglas Community Center. It’s in the highlands of Louisville, Kentucky. And it was kind of a place where everyone would meet after school, people from all over the city. It was just a good place to play because it was a gym that was open every day. You can’t get that everywhere. And this dude that was in the picture with me, started showing up and I think he had six, seven, eight years on all of us; we were all in high school, sophomores, juniors. And he would just come and destroy high schoolers, myself included. But he made me better because of it. I can’t even remember his name, but he was dominant.

He played in jeans, he had to be. You are not necessarily the typical person that you would look and be like, “Oh, he plays ball and he raps,” which is obviously something you reference on “Tyler Herro.” How often do you get called Billy Hoyle?

Literally not one time in my life.

Never?

I’d never heard that name.

I am so upset. I get called every light-skinned basketball player in the world, and you don’t get Billy Hoyle. Have you seen White Men Can’t Jump?

No. That’s one of the movies that the entire culture grills me for not having seen. And I’m doing my best man, I’ve seen Boyz N The Hood, I’ve watched all these movies, man. I can’t see them all.

You can, we’re in a pandemic. You have nothing better to do.

I need to see White Men Can’t Jump, just for the title alone.

Is that the name of the white guy in the movie?

His name is Billy Hoyle. It was Woody Harrelson. He’s actually a killer. He’s a sharpshooter from beyond the line. I think he might actually be part of where that “white boys are shooters” stereotype comes from. Have you ever played with any of these guys before?

The four we’re playing with? No, I’ve just studied their game.

Do you have a strategy?

I’ve watched the film. You strike me as a 2 Chainz fan, man.

I strike you as a 2 Chainz fan?

Yeah. You don’t have to tell me, brother. I just tried to figure out why you’re going for 2 Chainz and Lil Baby.

I’m not going for 2 Chainz and Lil Baby. I’m asking you if you have a strategy. I got to do my journalistic due diligence. What would you say is the most surprising thing about the leap that you’ve made over that period of time from Confetti to That’s What They All Say?

I haven’t been surprised yet.

Okay, I like that. That’s confidence right there.

I wish I could give you an answer, bro. I wish I could give you an answer.

What’s next for you, man? You’ve got your all-star thing. You’re doing basketball. What’s next on the music front?

I’m about to take over this whole sh*t, man. I got a lot of good music in the can, but I’m going to let my album cook for awhile. We got some videos to drop. We just going to keep doing this. The next time we talk, there’s going to be great things that have happened.

The next time we talk I’m going to ask you one question. It’s going to be, “Have you seen it yet?” And I better hear a yes.

Next time we talk, what you need to do is ask me how that million felt.

Watch B/R Open Run on Sunday, March 7 at 5 pm ET on TNT.

Jack Harlow is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Twitter Clowns Candace Owens For Statement Connecting “Feminism” & Donald Trump

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On Sunday night, Donald Trump had his first post-presidential rally at the 2021 CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference). While his speech was riddled with falsehoods about the election results and statements about President Joe Biden, there was one section of the speech that particularly struck a chord. 

“Joe Biden and the Democrats are even pushing policies that would destroy women sports,” said Trump. “Young girls and women are incensed that they are now being forced to compete against those who are biological males. It’s not good for women. it’s not good for women’s sports which worked for so long and so hard to get to where they are.”

Notable conservative author Candace Owens took to her Twitter on Sunday evening to express her support for Trump’s message. She writes, “If you guys are wondering what actual feminism is, it’s Donald Trump having the courage to stand up on stage and call out the insanity of biological men dominating women’s sports.”

Her tweet got a lot of attention, and Twitter users rushed to clown her, claiming she embarrassed herself. Many were quick to note the irony of calling Trump a “feminist” with his staggering number of sexual assault allegations. 

 

 

Others asserted that she simply did not understand transgender people. 

Other users looked back to Dave Chapelle’s comedic statement on Candace. 

Most, however, just tore into her views and values. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Air Jordan 35 “All-Star” Coming Soon: Official Photos

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While the NBA All-Star Game has brought about quite a bit of controversy as of late, the sneaker world is still excited for the shoes that are about to be released. Nike Basketball has teased a whole plethora of releases and you can bet that Jordan Brand is also joining in on the fun. In fact, today, the brand officially dropped official images for a new Air Jordan 35 colorway appropriately dubbed “All-Star.”

As you can see in the images below, the shoe has a mostly black base although there is grey suede all the way throughout. You even get some of that gray on the back heel where there is a quilted motif. From there, orange highlights can be found in certain parts of the shoe, which helps give it a nice pop of color. Overall, it’s a unique model and it’s definitely fit for an All-Star appearance.

At the current moment, there is no release date for these although with the All-Star Game going down on March 7th, you can expect these to drop sometime in the near future. As always, let us know what you think of this offering in the comments below.

Image via Nike
Air Jordan 35 'All-Star' DJ6166-006 Lateral
Image via Nike
Air Jordan 35 'All-Star' DJ6166-006 Medial
Image via Nike

Meg Thee Stallion + Pardison Fontaine Share Bedroom Pics

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Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion and Pardison Fontaine are in big love. The hip-hop pair have continued to share super gushy pics of themselves looking extra boo’d up and sharing hardcore relationship goals-driven moments. Meg Thee Stallion + Pardison Fontaine Boo’d Up Over the past few hours, both Meg and Fontaine have unloaded a grip […]

The post Meg Thee Stallion + Pardison Fontaine Share Bedroom Pics appeared first on SOHH.com.

Megan Thee Stallion & Pardison Fontaine Share Intimate Photos In Bed

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Megan Thee Stallion and Pardison Fontaine want the world to know that they’re taken, using the weekend to post some intimate pictures of each other in bed.

Despite their relationship seemingly being pretty new, Megan and Pardison Fontaine have gotten close pretty quickly. After a video surfaced on social media of Pardi seemingly yelling at Megan on her birthday, the two have been using their platforms to rewrite their narrative, painting a picture of a couple in the honeymoon stage of their relationship. On Sunday night, Megan posted a new photo dump on Instagram, including tons of Pardi references. “I’ve been grinding so hard lately the hotties are abt to be so proud,” wrote the rapper. “Literally all I’ve been doing is working and entertaining mr hotboy.”

In the pictures, she lays in bed with Mr. Hot Boy and throws up a peace sign. She also shows off the take-out that they ordered, as well as the text message and photo she sent him when she woke up before the songwriter. “Y u be f*ckin wit me lol,” said Pardi when Megan sent him a picture of her awake next to his sleeping self. “Why you don’t wake up the same time as me,” she responded. 

Pardison also came through with some compromising shots of his own, posting a snap of his girlfriend with a gold bonnet on her head as she prepared to rest her eyes for the night. “SOMETHING BOUT HER IN THAT BONNET BE SENDING ME,” he said. “THEEPARDIGIRL.” On Twitter, he shared a voice note where he says that Megan is never heading back to anybody else, claiming her for eternity.

Do you think Pardi and Megan make a nice couple?

Patrick Mahomes Undergoes Surgery, Return Timeline Revealed

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Patrick Mahomes suffered a case of turf toe during the NFL playoffs this past season and as a result, it was obvious that he wasn’t as mobile as he usually is. For instance, during the Super Bowl, Mahomes had a tough time getting out of the pocket, and it allowed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to completely feast on him for the entire game. As a result, it became obvious that Mahomes needed surgery, and recently, that’s exactly what he got.

According to NFL Network reporter James Palmer, Mahomes had a successful surgery about three weeks ago. Now, the superstar quarterback will have to recover for three months, and during that time, he won’t be able to engage in football activities. 

However, there is some positive news for Mahomes here as he is expected to be at training camp this summer. In fact, some believe Mahomes will get to participate in the Chiefs’ mandatory mini-camp which is supposed to take place in just a few short months.

Either way, things are looking good for Mahomes and Kansas City. After a disappointing end to last season, the squad will be motivated to come back with a vengeance and a healthy Mahomes will be a scary sight for opposing teams.

Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

K Hus Pays Homage To A Classic With “Superbad Freestyle”

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Long Island rapper K Hus has officially returned to the fold with a new single “Superbad Freestyle,” a tribute to the beloved Jonah Hill and Michael Cera-led 2007 comedy. And while the film centers around the blundering misadventures of several young high schoolers coming of age, K Hus appears far more focused and disciplined than the likes of McLovin. Taking to a distorted guitar riff, Hus wastes little time in diving straight into the bars. 

“Put VVs on my fingers, look good when I smoke an opp down to stinger,” he spits, whipping his flow into a quicker pace. “I met her on clubhouse she told me to ping her, told her I rap but she thinks I’m a singer / She got a friend told her to bring her, they fight for the dick like they on Jerry Springer.” For the most part, “Superbad Freestyle” is a solid showcase for K Hus, a young rapper who might not be on everyone’s radar quite yet. Perhaps we’ll see more from him in the coming months, especially if he continues to fire off loosies like this one. 

Check it out for yourself now, and sound off if you’re interested in whatever K Hus has cooking up. 

QUOTABLE LYRICS

Put VVs on my fingers, look good when I smoke an opp down to stinger
I met her on clubhouse she told me to ping her, told her I rap but she thinks I’m a singer
She got a friend told her to bring her, they fight for the dick like they on Jerry Springer

LiveNation’s CEO Thinks Big Outdoor Concerts Will Return To The US This Summer

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Getty Image

It was around mid-March of 2020 that the first shelter-in-place orders were issued in the United States. That was almost a year ago now, and the future of the live music industry is still uncertain. LiveNation seems to think, though, that they will be able to host large, mostly full concerts this summer.

CEO Michael Rapino said during Live Nation’s Q4 2020 earnings call last week that “a clear outline to a 75 percent to 100 percent” is likely to go forward, noting that 75-plus-percent capacity shows in large US markets are “within sight.” He also noted, “We might have certain states that might not be ready, but we have enough states and enough artists willing to play the open slots if we get to that level in the right markets. So as long as these states open up to the right capacities, we can start in midsummer and in the southern US we can go all the way into November.”

As for shows at a lower capacity, that doesn’t seem to be in LiveNation’s plans, as Rapino said, “[We] have not, to date, done a lot of work in the 0-percent to 50-percent capacity business. We don’t see that as a viable model to ramp back up [considering the] fixed cost.”

This news comes just about a week after Boston Calling decided to cancel its event this year for the second year in a row, so it remains to be seen if other events will follow suit or if LiveNation’s optimism is shared by others.

Cardi B Responds To Fan Demanding Lizzo Collaboration

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Cardi B’s upcoming sophomore album has been years in the works, and while she has shared a few singles during the downtime, many have been eagerly anticipating her Invasion Of Privacy follow-up. Though it’s likely that the untitled drop will arrive at some point this year, information about the actual content has been relatively scarce. As such, Cardi’s passionate fanbase has been taking every opportunity to glean as much insight into her process as humanly possible.

Cardi B

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

So much so that even a simple tweet from Cardi B, one that centered around praising some new photos from former Hustlers co-star Lizzo, had some all but demanding a collaboration. It got to the point where Cardi herself stepped in with an answer, revealing that while she was indeed interested in connecting with Lizzo on wax, she would first need to come up with the appropriate song. “Can I do a song first thst I can put her on,” she writes, a message that sparked excitement from her followers. 

Unfortunately, Cardi also had to temper their expectations with a potent dose of reality. Stop pressuring me to do stuff,” she added, in a subsequent tweet. “I can’t even show love to people with 100 collab collab collab.” Alas, such is the plight of the celebrity, especially one who so actively engages with her fanbase on social media. At this point, all we can really do is wait until Cardi feels the anticipated album is ready — will you be tuning in once it is? 

Stefflon Don Owns Up To Past Colorist Tweets, Speaks On Nicki Minaj Beef Rumors

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People have been trying to paint a narrative about Stefflon Don and her past, so the rapper is taking control of the situation and speaking on it before it gets out of hand.

With cancel culture running rampant on social media, artists are quick to face backlash for things they said when they were starting out. Quality Control’s international rep Stefflon Don knows that, in the past, she’s been problematic. She’s trying to nip everything in the bud though, recalling some of the things she’s said publicly and explaining that she’s grown as a person since then.


Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images 

“Every time I am on a blog people want to bring up my past mistakes. So let me post it here MYSELF for everyone to see,” wrote Steff on Twitter. “Because you will not trick or scare me with something I my self acknowledged, owned and sincerely apologised for.” She posted a screengrab from a tweet she made in 2013, calling out dark-skinned women and saying that, if they had a choice, they would “change [their] colour”. She owned up to the post, saying, “Yes this was me almost 10 years ago. Ignorant and angry So I directed this tweet at a girl who shaded me for my colour. I have grown since then and owned up to my mistakes and this is not a reflection of the Woman I am today! I have apologised and moved on I hope you can too.”

She also addressed the rumors that she has issues with Nicki Minaj, which were amplified in late 2018, when Steff criticized the rapper and her fans. “I love nicki as an artist ! always said this and always will,” clarified the rapper on Sunday night. “Nobody can ever change that Respectfully. And hate train..I ddnt even know she was getting hate cuz I wud have kept my opinion2 myself. But a problem W her never it was fans doing the most But just know I BEEN a fan.”


Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

What do you make of Stefflon Don’s recent comments?