article

The concept of a Utopia, which goes hand in hand with the far-less-favorable Dystopia, has long been analyzed in academic circles for decades. From the bible to modern-day literature, Utopias have long inspired artists in a variety of different ways, and Travis Scott appears to be drawing from the concept heavily on his upcoming album.

During a recent feature for CR Men, Scott opened up about his own Utopia, which has yet to solidify a concrete release date. Unsurprisingly, the project appears to center around the idea of a “utopian state,” which will find Scott speaking on his own interpretation of the complex idea. “Medicine, nursing, being a better person, talking, language, communication—you know, a utopian state,” he explains. “That’s what my album is about.” 

Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

“You think utopia is a society where everything is good: health, buildings, architecture—nah,” he continues. “It’s just about proper lines of communication,” he said. “Because that’s the dystopian shit we’re in right now. It’s all hate, hate, hate, and all of that is drawn from what? Miscommunication, non-communication, non-understandable communication, ignorance to communication. ‘I don’t like this person.’ Why? Because somebody told me something to not like this person? Because in history I read to not like this person? Why?” 

From the sound of it, Travis appears to be tackling some complex themes throughout his upcoming body of work, and it should be interesting to see how he intends on bringing some of these ideas to life. His emphasis on communication is particularly interesting, as Scott is widely considered to be one of hip-hop’s most effective when it comes to marketing and messaging.

For more from Travis Scott — including a bit of insight into his approach to co-parenting with Kylie Jenner — check out more details about his upcoming CR Men cover story below. Are you excited to see Travis pushing himself to new thematic heights on Utopia? 

Everybody’s favorite serial baby-maker, Nick Cannon, seemingly tried to shoot his shot with Ashanti at Sunday night’s MTV VMAs, getting down on one knee and kissing the singer’s hand on the red carpet. Considering his recent comments, which point to him wanting to have more and more babies, this might have been his way of charming Ashanti into possibly spending some time with him after the show.

The two celebrities crossed paths on the red carpet, and Nick Cannon couldn’t help himself, wildin’ out and making Ashanti blush by getting down on one knee for a joke proposal. The moment has turned heads for a number of reasons, and one of them has to be because of what Cannon was wearing.

Taylor Hill/Getty Images

The comedian wore red braids, shiny sunglasses, a sparkly vest, white pants, and diamond-encrusted boots. He accessorized the look with a red cup in one hand, and a stack of cash in the other.

“Now Nicholas,” complained one fan in the comments. “Halloween at the VMAs,” joked another. “Is there any coming back from this,” asked a third commenter.

Despite his corny behavior, the funnyman shamelessly went through with his stunt, and now people are begging Ashanti not to entertain Nick’s nonsense. “Ashanti will not be in the rotation sir,” said one person. “Run Ashanti!!!” advised another, adding pregnant emojis to show her what the possible outcome could be if she goes any further.

Jeff Kravitz/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images

Check out some photos of them below, and read through the comments underneath.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Instagram

After celebrating its 30th-anniversary last year, the Air Jordan 5 has kept up the momentum with a string of dope releases throughout 2021. The colorways continue to release at a rapid pace, and just last week, we found out that even more would be dropping this year as part of Jordan Brand’s Holiday 2021 lineup. One of the models that got fans’ attention right away was the “Bluebird” offering which is a women’s exclusive.

In the image below, you can see that the entire upper is covered in ice blue nubuck which immediately creates a gorgeous glow that is going to look great with any outfit. The midsole has some silver as well as a darker shade of blue that helps provide some contrast to the overall look of the colorway. As always, the tongue is silver 3M which means there will be some flashy aesthetics under certain lighting conditions.

The good news for sneakerheads is that this new offering will actually be released in just under a month. This shoe is slated to drop on October 7th, and if you fit into women’s sizing, these are an absolute must-cop. Let us know what you think of the new pair, in the comments section below.

Image via Nike

Disney+ has been on a roll with a slew of original series, including the recent run of WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, and the recent What If?

Now, the streak is set to continue with the upcoming release of Hawkeye, which is set to hit the streaming service on November 24th. The official trailer for Hawkeye has arrived, placing longtime MCU vet Jeremy Renner in the spotlight like never before and promising a story that appears both highly personal and action-packed — a combination that the Marvel team has been perfecting throughout the years.  

Gotham/GC Images/Getty Images

From the look of it, the archer will find his attempts to reconcile with his family thwarted by a new threat — one that appears directly linked to his past. Set to a rendition of “It’s A Most Wonderful Time Of The Year,” Hawkeye finds himself teaming up with Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop, who looks to become something of a protege for the weary and wisecracking Avenger. Expect plenty of impressive archery and comedy throughout — there are even a few glimpses of a zany Captain America-centric musical, which promises to be a spectacle in itself.

Fans have been quick to praise the tone of the trailer, with many excited to see Renner’s Hawkeye finally fleshed out, especially given the developmental depth of comic-book counterpart. Plus, there’s also the added bonus of delivering a bit of holiday cheer, which should go a long way in further establishing Hawkeye’s unique tone.

Check it out for yourself below, and look for the series to begin streaming on November 24th, exclusively on Disney+.

WATCH: Marvel’s Hawkeye (Official Trailer)

This past week, Jordan Brand unveiled its brand new collection for the Holiday season of 2021. This collection features a ton of great models including the Air Jordan 1, Air Jordan 5, Air Jordan 13, and of course, the 14. There are also a couple of Air Jordan 3 colorways to be found here, and one of them is perhaps the most unique AJ3 yet.

The offering in question is simply being dubbed “Camo” and as you can see in the image below, the shoe has different color blocking all the way throughout. The base color here is a brownish-purple “taupe” of sorts, all while camo materials are placed near the back heel and even the tongue. From there, we have some nice shades of green that are placed in the form of suede hits. Overall, these elements come together to create an Air Jordan 3 that fans will find to be both interesting and polarizing.

When it comes to the release date for this shoe, you can expect it to drop sometime closer to the Holiday season, although an exact date has yet to be revealed. Let us know what you think of these in the comments below, and be sure to stay tuned to HNHH for more updates from the sneaker world.

Image via Nike

Yung Bleu has allegedly decided to drop the “Yung” from his name, revealing that he will simply be going by BLEU in the future.

The 27-year-old multi-platinum artist has been updating fans on his upcoming chapter on social media, and he admitted that he’s going to change his name officially. As Yung Bleu, the Mobile, Alabama native became one of the most decorated young artists coming up, but he’s looking for new beginnings, and he must feel as though he’s close to growing out of his name.

Prince Williams/Getty Images

“New chapter,” tweeted BLEU. “I’m taking the Yung off my name. I’m just BLEU now! All Capital.”

Other rappers that have changed their names mid-career include Snoop Dogg, Diddy, Latto, and even Kanye West, who appears to be undergoing a name change to simply “Ye.”

So far, it doesn’t seem as though everybody is behind the switch-up. Some of his fans are responding to the tweet and suggesting other names, like “Bleu Vandross.” Others are telling him that as long as he keeps dropping quality music, they don’t care what name he uses.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images

The rapper might simply be making a spontaneous decision, and it might not stick for the long term. We will keep you posted as BLEU proceeds in this next chapter.

One of the more understated Jordan models of the 90s is the Air Jordan 14. This was the last shoe that Michael Jordan was able to win a title in and it’s one of those offerings that continues to get new colorways. All throughout 2021, we have seen a plethora of dope Air Jordan 14 colorways, and with the Holiday season approaching, we are set to receive more. Jumpman recently unveiled its new offerings for the next few months, and the Jordan 14 is certainly a big part of the collection.

For example, we got to see the new Air Jordan 14 Winterized which is a model made specifically to combat the rain and snow. Jumpman has been giving numerous models a winter version as of late and this Jordan 14 promises to keep sneakerheads protected. As for the colorway itself, the shoe is covered in brown material as black and red highlights are placed all the way throughout. These colors are perfect for the Fall season and will certainly give fans something to cheer for.

As for right now, there is no release date associated with these, so stay tuned to HNHH as we will be sure to bring you all of the latest news and updates. In the meantime, give us your thoughts on the colorway, in the comments below.

Image via Nike

Conor McGregor seemingly wasn’t very happy to see Machine Gun Kelly on the red carpet at the MTV VMAs on Sunday night, because the fighter appeared to throw a drink in the rock-rapper’s direction. It wasn’t clear what had happened between the two celebrities, but clearly, something had angered McGregor enough to hurl something at the rapper. 

Shortly after the incident, both of them addressed the altercation with differing responses. 

Kevin Mazur/MTV VMAs 2021/Getty Images

“I don’t know [what happened], I don’t even know the guy,” said McGregor. “Nothing happened with me. I only fight real fighters, people that actually fight, I certainly don’t fight little vanilla boy rappers, you know, I don’t even know the guy. I don’t know anything about him. Except that he’s with Megan Fox.”

When Machine Gun Kelly was asked about what happened, he simply responded with “Ah!”, hit the microphone, and then walked off. Megan Fox added, “We’re not allowed to say anything.”

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

At this point, it’s anybody’s guess as to what actually happened. Maybe this was staged and meant to be MGK’s first foray into the well-paying world of celebrity boxing? A fight with McGregor would likely net him a few million dollars, so could they be in cahoots?

Check out their responses below, as well as photos of the scuffle underneath.

Following the George Floyd protests last year, the NFL decided to make a concerted effort in bringing awareness to issues in the black community. In fact, the NFL pledged $250 million to various charities and organizations that can make a difference. For many, this was long overdue especially when you consider how the NFL treated Colin Kaepernick just a few years ago when he kneeled for during the National Anthem for the first time.

Now, the NFL is allowing activism on its fields as players have been told they can wear a special sticker on their helmet that has a particular social justice phrase. This is very much in line with what the NBA did last season in the bubble.

Naomi Baker/Getty Images

According to The New York Times, the NFL will also play “Lift Ev’ry Voice And Sing” before every single game. This song is known as the Black National Anthem and was played at some NFL and NASCAR events last season. Alicia Keys sang the song last Thursday before the first game of the season, and now, it will be a mainstay all throughout the 2021 campaign.

It remains to be seen whether or not this is something that will stick long-term, although it’s clear that the NFL is at least trying something new. Let us know what you think of this move, in the comments below.

[Via]

Last Friday, Baby Keem delivered his brand new album The Melodic Blue, a project that features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar (on two occasions), Don Toliver, and Travis Scott. It also happened to be the first release on Kendrick’s new pgLang label, which is set to mark a new chapter for the Pulitizer Prize-winning lyricist. 

In any case, Keem’s The Melodic Blue has already proven to be a fan-favorite, with many praising the dynamic rapper’s versatility and fearless experimentation. With songs like “Issues,” “Range Brothers, “Family Ties,” and “Trademark USA,” the project has much to offer fans of both lyrically driven and melodic rap, as Keem tends to balance both styles with reasonable efficacy.

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Now, it would appear that Keem’s bold approach is paying off, as The Melodic Blue has turned in an impressive first week on the sales front. According to a report from chart data, Keem is looking at between 50 and 55k in album-equivalent units, enough to land him a top-five position on the U.S. Billboard charts. Solid given Keem’s status as a relative newcomer in the game, and The Melodic Blue is officially his highest-charting album yet.

It certainly didn’t hurt that the album effective served as the catalyst for Kendrick Lamar’s return; lead single “Family Ties” featured the first new Kendrick Lamar verse in years, and many are still reflecting on the fallout a single line (“smoking on top-fives tonight”) can bring. Don’t get it twisted, however — The Melodic Blue is Keem’s show, and will likely be a springboard for his career moving forward.

A few days removed from the album’s release, where do you stand on Baby Keem’s pgLang debut?