Drake’s Astroworld Deposition Was “Several Hours” Long, Details Have Yet To Surface

As one of the most recognized figures in the music industry, it’s not uncommon for Drake to run into legal issues. For the most part, the 36-year-old manages to stay out of trouble more than some of his contemporaries, though his performance at the 2021 Astroworld Festival with Travis Scott has been haunting him for the past two years. As his legal team previously argued, Champagne Papi had no part in planning the actual event, though he was on stage with La Flame during a massive crowd crush that caused 10 people to lose their lives two years ago.

“I’ve spent the past few days trying to wrap my mind around this devastating tragedy,” Drake wrote on his Instagram Story shortly after the incident. “I hate resorting to this platform to express an emotion as delicate as grief but this is where I find myself, My heart is broken for the families and friends of those who lost their lives, and for anyone who is suffering. I will continue to pray for all of them, and be of service in any way I can. May God be with you all,” the Canadian further empathized.

Read More: Drake Breaks Silence On Israel-Palestine Conflict, Signs Letter Calling For Ceasefire

Drake Deposed Two Years After Astroworld Tragedy

According to Rolling Stone, yesterday (November 9), Drizzy finally sat down for a deposition regarding the 2021 Astroworld Festival that lasted “several hours.” Details about the “Over” hitmaker’s conversation with authorities are sparse for now. “Due to orders in the case, I don’t feel it is appropriate to comment on the matter,” Drake’s team told the outlet when they reached out.

Many already know that the legal process is a typically slow-moving one. Aside from Drake’s deposition just now finally taking place, Travis Scott also has new lawsuits naming him. The father of two wasn’t given criminal charges by a grand jury. However, he still has several civil cases that have yet to wrap up. Read more about that at the link below, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

Read More: Travis Scott Astroworld Lawsuits Continue To Roll In After 2nd Anniversary Of Festival Tragedy

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Slam Dunk: Drake x Nike’s NOCTA Basketball Collection Ft Kevin Durant

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Drake, the renowned rapper and global cultural icon, has once again teamed up with Nike to release the latest NOCTA “Basketball” collection. The highly anticipated drop, which hit shelves on November 6th via Nocta.com and Nike’s SNKRS app, showcases a fusion of on-court performance apparel and off-court silhouettes, pushing the boundaries of youth basketball culture and defining the next era of sport.

Official Unveiling with Kevin Durant

Drake took to Instagram to make the official announcement, sharing images of the NOCTA Basketball collection alongside basketball superstar Kevin Durant. The post, which can be viewed HERE, gives fans an exclusive look at the collection’s key pieces, setting the stage for what promises to be a game-changer in both the fashion and sports worlds.

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NOCTA Basketball Apparel: A Closer Look

The NOCTA Basketball collection boasts a diverse range of on-court and off-court garments, seamlessly blending performance pieces with lifestyle elements. Here’s a closer look at some of the standout items from the collection:

Game-Changing Style and Performance

The NOCTA “Basketball” collection isn’t just about looking good; it’s a celebration of style and performance. With a meticulous blend of materials, innovative designs, and attention to detail, Drake’s latest collaboration with Nike promises to leave a lasting impact on the intersection of fashion and sports.

Whether you’re hitting the court or the streets, NOCTA Basketball has you covered, offering a complete arsenal of garments that seamlessly transition from on-court intensity to off-court cool. The collection is a testament to Drake’s influence not only in the music industry but also in shaping the fashion landscape. Don’t miss out on your chance to score big with the NOCTA “Basketball” collection—available now on Nocta.com and Nike’s SNKRS app.

The post Slam Dunk: Drake x Nike’s NOCTA Basketball Collection Ft Kevin Durant first appeared on The Source.

The post Slam Dunk: Drake x Nike’s NOCTA Basketball Collection Ft Kevin Durant appeared first on The Source.

When Does Drake’s Kevin Durant-Approved NOCTA ‘Basketball’ Collection Come Out?

kevin durant for nocta with drake
NOCTA

Drake’s love of basketball is well-documented, from his friendships with NBA stars to his noted gambling habit to his alleged purchase of $100,000 rings to celebrate a championship win in his rec league.

So, it’s only natural that his clothing line with Nike, NOCTA, would eventually get a line of basketball apparel and gear, along with a campaign featuring NBA all-star Kevin Durant. Durant previously appeared in Drake’s “Laugh Now, Cry Later” video featuring Lil Durk, which was shot at Nike’s Oregon headquarters campus. Here’s how you can get your hands on the new collection before it inevitably sells out and ends up on StockX for triple the price.

You can pull up (heh) on Nocta.com to check out the options currently in stock, which include basketball jerseys (of course) and shorts (absolutely), basketballs (naturally), shoes (they are Zoom Flight 95s, fam, just get those instead), base layer tops (why not), shooting sleeves (alright), socks (sure), and a “sideline trench” jacket (oh… kay). There are also tights, briefs, and caps if you want to go all out on the Drake-branded apparel thing, and a $400 Goretex rain jacket, which — where the hell are you planning to play? The usual assortment of sweats, tees, and the like are also on display, including pants with a Swarovski crystal Swoosh logo.

Dog, I swear, if you show up at a run with those on, you better play like Kevin Durant. Guys around my way aren’t having it.

Starting November 8 at 7 am PT / 10 am ET, you can also grab everything (except those crystal pants, I’m warning you, don’t do it) on the SNKRS app.

Kid Cudi Joins Drake, Kehlani & Others To Advocate For Peace In Palestine: ‘I’ll Always Encourage Peace’

Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi has recently expressed his support for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. His stance aligns with artists like Drake and Kehlani, who are part of the Artists 4 Ceasefire initiative, which recently penned an open letter to President Joe Biden and the United States Congress. The letter appeals for an immediate de-escalation and […]

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J. Cole Said Drake Chose The ‘Song Over Competition’ On ‘First Person Shooter,’ But He Expects Revenge

The 50th anniversary of hip-hop discussions proved how competitive the genre has been throughout the decades. Each emcee is vying for their chance to snatch the attention of the listening audience for the coveted yet ever-elusive crown of the best rapper. The ability to be ranked at the top of any profession is an accolade most would be willing to fight for, including “Passport Bros” rapper J. Cole.

Dreamville’s head honcho has made a habit of calling his peers — hell, even newcomers — out for a light, lyrical sparring match. Fans fueled his inner spark by deeming him the conqueror in a few big-name collaborations. His first career No. 1 record, the Drake collaboration “First Person Shooter,” is one example. According to J. Cole, although Drake ultimately chose the “song over the competition,” he expects revenge from the recording artist soon.

During an appearance on “The Secret Recipe” collaborator Lil Yachty’s podcast A Safe Place, he spoke about the public’s (including Joe Budden) favorable response to his verse.

“At that moment, [Drake] chose the song over the competition and what the public is going to say [about his performance],” Cole said. “Drake ain’t looking at it like, ‘I’m going to take Cole’s f*cking head off at some point.’ Don’t think he ain’t’ looking at it like, ‘Nah, we just gonna make the best song.’ No, he comes from that cloth. So… at some point in time, he going to want his lick back.”

Drake, under pressure, has created bangers in the past (i.e., “Back To Back”). Cole better keep his head on a swivel.

Watch the full episode of A Safe Place podcast above.

J. Cole Claims He Doesn’t Charge For Guest Verses

A J. Cole feature can mean a lot for any song these days. Two huge hits on the Hot 100 this year sport guest verses from the veteran rapper. He teamed up with Lil Durk for one of the longest-running rap hits of the year “All My Life.” He also recently scored his first number-one hit on the Hot 100 by teaming up with Drake on the track “First Person Shooter.” He’s lent legendary guest verses to Young Thug, 6LACK, JID, 21 Savage, Summer Walker, and many more.

You’d think that kind of success would mean his guest spots came at a high price. But Cole revealed in a new interview that he doesn’t actually charge anything for his features. He was asked about a bar he spit once where he claimed he’s paid $2000 per word for his features. But he clarified that it was just a lyric and that “I don’t even charge n*ggas for the verse.” In the comments, fans reacted to the revelation. “Ain’t no way he gave that Durk and yatchy verse for free He th real one fr,” one of the top comments reads. Check out the interview clip and various fan reactions below.

Read More: Janet Jackson And J. Cole Rock The Stage At The ONE Musicfest: Watch

J. Cole Does His Features For Free

 
 
 
 
 
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Last week, J. Cole announced the return of his beloved Dreamville Festival. The festival will be returning to Raleigh, North Carolina in April of 2024. While no lineup details have been announced yet, the fest normally attracts all types of high end rap talent. This year’s rendition of the festival featured Cole himself, Drake, Usher, Burna Boy, and many more big artists.

Cole may have another collaboration on the way soon. He was recently spotted in the studio with GloRilla which prompted fans online to speculate that the two may have some material on the way. What do you think of J. Cole doing features for free? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: J. Cole Admits That He “Almost” Wishes That “First Person Shooter” Did Not Go Number One

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J. Cole Had Mixed Feelings About His Drake Collab ‘First Person Shooter’ Being His First No. 1 And Explained Why

J. Cole recently appeared on Lil Yachty’s A Safe Place podcast, where he opened up about how it felt getting his first No. 1. The achievement came from his “First Person Shooter” collaboration with Drake reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

“If it would’ve went No. 2 it wouldn’t have mattered,” J. Cole said. “I wouldn’t have felt no way. If the other song would’ve went No. 1, it’s like, bruh, I’m cool.”

“If that other song would’ve went No. 1, n****, I’m still grateful I’m a part of it,” he added, according to Vibe. “I wasn’t at home like, ‘Come on y’all! Pick up the streams, man! We gotta beat this motherf*cker’ Yeat! Come on!’… What got ‘First Person Shooter’ to No. 1 was me and [Drake’s] fans still buy iTunes singles… the digital actual sales of the song. I don’t know who’s still buying them b*tches but, you know, appreciate y’all.”

However, he also felt like maybe he wished it was his own song, rather than just a feature on a track from Drake’s For All The Dogs album. “I’d almost feel better not having my first No. 1 being off a Drake alley-oop, you know what I mean?” J. Cole explained.

By Drake reaching No. 1 as well with his song, he now ties Michael Jackson’s record for the most hit songs at 13.

Goodie Mob Dives Deep: The State Of Hip-Hop, Sampling, and Drake & MJ Comparisons

goodiemob

Goodie Mob recently sat down with SOHH to discuss various aspects of the music industry. Khujo Goodie, Gipp, and T-Mo delved into topics such as the state of the modern hip-hop world, the art of hip-hop sampling, and the influence of Drake‘s success. In this exclusive interview, the members shared their perspectives on the lack […]

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The Truth Behind HBCU Homecomings: Funding Disparities Influence Celebrity Attendance & Student Experience

CAU Homecoming 2023, Quavo

Homecoming season at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) is a highly anticipated time of the year for students and alumni. Nevertheless, the intriguing phenomenon surrounding the attendance of A-list celebrities for homecoming performances at specific schools raises questions about underlying factors like school funding, university publicity, or the presence of notable alumni.  HBCU Homecoming […]

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SZA & Drake’s ‘Slime You Out’ Collaboration Might’ve Been Sabotaged, Or So The Singer Questioned

Apparently, Nicki Minaj isn’t the only woman in music harboring resentment toward Drake over his latest solo album, For All The Dogs. Minaj’s long-awaited and frequently teased track with her Young Money alum didn’t make the final tracklist, so she dropped her own freestyle over a song that did appear. On the other hand, SZA’s collaboration with Drake did.

However, yesterday (October 30), in a sit-down with the Wall Street Journal, SZA questioned if Drake was back up to his Mean Girls’ Regina George-ish ways. When discussing “Slime You Out” with journalist Hunter Harris, SZA theorized that Drake might’ve sabotaged her.

“I just handed in the first draft to Drake, and he’s putting it on his album. I’m scared because I handed in the second vocals, and he didn’t use that. And now I’m like, ‘Are you trying to sabotage me?’ I know that’s not true. I literally know that’s not true, but that’s how bad I feel about my first draft. When things come from an effortless space, I almost can’t enjoy it,” said SZA.

Although she was sure to clarify that she was overthinking the scenario, fans online have verbalized their disappointment in the track. That certainly could’ve triggered SZA’s perfectionism. In June, SZA admitted to “punking out” of a guest appearance on Lil Tjay’s “Calling My Phone Remix” because she didn’t feel she could add anything to the record.