PUMA Hoops and basketball superstarLaMelo Ball are unveiling their first-ever co-designed lifestyle shoe – LaFrancé.
Created through intimate collaboration between LaMelo Ball and the PUMA design team, the LaFrancé gets its inspiration and name from LaMelo’s namesake lifestyle brand, which fuses different inspirations from streetwear fashion, sport and lifestyle.
The LaFrancé silhouette represents a new take on Melo – an elevated, chunky street inspired take to off-court fashion fueled by his fierce flare and energy. An off-court icon, LaFrancé boasts an all-red fiery upper and chunky silhouette, the “Amour” colorway is a nod to the overstated aesthetics of Y2K skate culture; and is just the first of many LaFrancé colorways to come. LaFrancé will be accompanied by a few apparel pieces, including graphic tees, a mesh tank, short, and track pants, ranging from $40-$110.
Getting real on the shoe design, Noah Bice (PUMA Hoops Designer of LaFrancé) said, “If you know Melo, you know he does everything large. From the chain to the logos, to the car, dude’s living large! So, we had to come through with a silhouette to fit that profile. The skate inspired, chunky upper and cup sole felt like the obvious sweet spot for Melo’s first lifestyle shoe.”
Dropping on May 17, 2024, LaFrancé and accompanying pieces will be available at PUMA.com, the PUMA mobile app, the PUMA NYC Flagship store and at Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs and select retailers worldwide.
Just a couple weeks after dropping the video for his unabashed Atlanta anthem “EXIT 9 (feat. Blxst)”, Killer Mike has shared a new version of the track with yet another esteemed ATLien, Offset. The track was premiered by Killer Mike on HOT 107.9 in Atlanta on Thursday, ahead of today’s streaming release. “Exit 9 in Atlanta is the Adamsville Martin Luther King Jr Blvd so when we started talking about doing a remix I knew I wanted to keep it on some Atlanta shit,” states Mike. “Offset and I have been running into each over the years showing one another love and respect & talking about working on something. Finally the time was right and the Nawf’West Remix was Born!” The song’s unabashed tribute to the city was brought into crystalline focus in the music video, which depicts Blxst and Mike breaking bread with the mayor and making the rounds to notable ATL landmarks from the Cascade roller rink to the Blue Flame.
Jeezy is shooting down allegations of domestic abuse and child neglect levied on him by Jeannie Mai. Hitting Instagram, Jeezy released a statement.
“The allegations are not only false, but also deeply disturbing, especially coming from someone I loved. This malicious attempt to tarnish my character and disrupt my family is ridiculous,” Jeezy wrote to social media. “It’s disheartening to witness the manipulation and deceit at play and at this time my main concern is being an active father to our daughter as I continue to fight for court mandated joint custody. Rest assured, the truth will prevail through the proper legal channels.”
Complex notes Mai accused Jeezy of domestic violence in court documents, stating he abused her four different times, including choking her and pushing her down stairs at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco in April 2022. Mai also stated Jeezy punched her in the face weeks after she gave birth.
Last week, Jeezy sought primary custody of their 2-year-old daughter, Monaco. Tensions reached a boiling point as Jeezy escalated the pressure in their divorce proceedings by filing for primary custody of Monaco. The move came after Jeezy claimed that Mai was limiting his access to their daughter, sparking a bitter custody battle that has captured headlines.
According to reports from TMZ, Jeezy alleges that Mai has been obstructing his visitation rights and restricting his ability to spend time with Monaco. Despite an informal custody arrangement they had reached last year, Jeezy asserts that the agreement disintegrated at the beginning of 2024, leaving him with minimal contact with his daughter throughout the year.
Jeezy claims that Monaco was not present at their shared home when he attempted to pick her up for a scheduled visit in early April. Furthermore, he alleges that Mai and Monaco have since moved out of the residence without his knowledge, leaving him in the dark about their whereabouts.
Adding fuel to the fire, Jeezy asserts that Mai has blocked his number, making regular FaceTime calls with Monaco impossible.
In response to these allegations, Jeezy has filed a motion requesting a hearing to establish a temporary parenting schedule that would ensure equal time-sharing between both parents.
Following a cease-and-desist letter issued to Drake, the Canadian superstar has removed the “Taylor Made Freestyle” diss track directed at Kendrick Lamar. Originally posted on Instagram, the single used an AI-generated Tupac voice to provoke Lamar.
According to Billboard, the estate threatened to sue and stated the voice was “a flagrant violation” and “blatant use” of Pac’s legacy.
The message was delivered via a cease-and-desist letter filed by Howard King, requesting Drake pull the song within 24 hours or face all of the estate’s “legal remedies.”
“The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” King wrote in the letter. “Not only is the record a flagrant violation of Tupac’s publicity and the estate’s legal rights, it is also a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. The Estate would never have given its approval for this use.”
Additionally, the letter reads, “The unauthorized, equally dismaying use of Tupac’s voice against Kendrick Lamar, a good friend to the Estate who has given nothing but respect to Tupac and his legacy publicly and privately, compounds the insult.”
Last Friday (April 19) on Instagram, Drake dropped off the “Taylor Made Freestyle.”
Upon pressing play, you will hear something you wouldn’t expect: Tupac’s voice. The single opens with an AI Tupac verse requesting KDot stand up for the West Coast. It is followed by an AI Snoop Dogg asking for the same.
AI Tupac raps: Fuck this Canadian lightskin, Dot We need an undebated West Coast victory, man Call him a bitch for me Talk about him liking young girls, that’s a gift from me Heard it on the Budden Podcast, it’s gotta be true They told me the spirit of Makaveli is alive In the nigga under five-foot five, so it’s gotta be you
AI Snoop added: ‘Cause right now it’s looking like you writing out the game plan on how to lose How to bark up the wrong tree and then get your head popped in a crowded room World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves?
After that, Drake pops in for his own slick talk: The first one really only took me an hour or two The next one is really ’bout to bring out the coward in you But now we gotta wait a fucking week ’cause Taylor Swift is your new Top And if you ’bout to drop, she gotta approve
Since “Like That,” your tone changed a little, you not as enthused How are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed You tryna let this shit die down, nah, nah, nah Not this time, nigga, you followin’ through
He ends the song with a message, “I know you’re in that NY apartment, you struggling right now I know it.”
Former Death Row head Suge Knight doesn’t like Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” diss to Kendrick Lamar. Not because it attacked Lamar but because it put 2Pac and Snoop’s voices together on the song.
Speaking on his Collect Call with Suge Knight podcast from Breakbeat Media, Suge said, “Putting him on a song and dissing Kendrick for everybody entertainment–that ain’t how it go.”
He added, “Then putting him on a song with Snoop, who was a part of his downfall and exit, ain’t ever a good look. Pac was a king on that chessboard. He never was a pawn, so he can’t make him be a pawn now.”
On this day in Hip Hop history three decades ago, OutKast, the duo that helped pioneer putting southern Hip Hop on the map, released their debut classic LP, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik.
This Dungeon Family masterpiece recorded by Andre 3000 and Big Boi paved the way for Atlanta and the rest of the Dirty South to have their unique voice in Hip Hop. Before this album, there weren’t many hit records coming from anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line. Peaking at #20 on the Billboard 200 and being certified platinum less than a year after its release, this album’s achievements speak for themselves.
Produced entirely by OutKast and Organized Noize, this project was like none before. Its sound is perfectly described as southern rap. Everything about this album screams Atlanta, from the dialect to the instruments used to the references. The smooth blues and marching band-influenced beats blend with Big Boi and Andre 3000’s flows, creating something new that rippled the tide of an industry saturated with G-Funk or New York Hip Hop.
Both commercially and critically, this album was immensely successful. It peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop charts. This album was also the reason OutKast received the Best Newcomer Award at the 1995 Source Awards, which, as we all know, was met with controversy. Regardless of the haters, this album came at the beginning of the career of two rappers who changed the game forever.
Today in 2002, 50 Cent released Guess Who’s Back?, his first official mixtape following the Power of the Dollar LP on the Full Clip Records indie imprint.
It was this offering that would catapult Curtis Jackson into the public eye. Eventually, the project would gain the attention of Eminem via his attorney/manager Paul Rosenberg and Shady would ultimately sign 50 Cent to Shady Records/Interscope and a new Hip Hop icon would be born.
Guess Who’s Back features production from Trackmasters, Clark Kent, Sha Money Xl, and featured street anthems like, “Your Life’s On The Line”. It also had the controversial song, “Ghetto Qu’ran” which allegedly led to his almost deadly shooting in 2000.
The album charted on Billboard setting up the G-Unit era and a lengthy career that continues today. 50 Cent would go on to release his mega Interscope debut, “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’” and become a top charting and live show sellout artist.
Salute to Fif for this timeless and necessary piece of Hip Hop history!
Wendy Williams, known for her boldness in addressing controversial topics, found herself at the center of a storm when she took on the production of the Lifetime movie “Aaliyah: The Princess of R & B” in 2014. Chronicling the life and journey of the late singer Aaliyah, the biopic aimed to shed light on the iconic artist’s rise to superstardom, her relationships with industry figures like R. Kelly, Missy Elliot, and Timbaland.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Williams defended her involvement in the project, emphasizing the importance of accurately portraying Aaliyah’s story. Despite her awareness of potential controversy, Williams believed the film would do justice to Aaliyah’s legacy and satisfy the curiosity of fans eager for insight into the singer’s life.
However, the movie faced significant criticism both before and after its release. Aaliyah’s family vehemently opposed the project, refusing to grant permission for the use of her original songs. Fans and celebrities alike expressed dissatisfaction with various aspects of the biopic, from its depiction of Aaliyah’s relationship with R. Kelly to concerns about casting choices.
Zendaya, initially cast as Aaliyah, withdrew from the project due to doubts about its quality, leading to her replacement by Alexandra Shipp. Timbaland, a close friend of Aaliyah, refused to watch the biopic and warned Williams to brace herself for the backlash it would inevitably bring.
Despite the negative feedback, Williams remained steadfast in her belief that the project honored Aaliyah’s legacy. She emphasized that the biopic was inspired by a book focusing on Aaliyah’s life rather than her tragic death, aiming to present a balanced portrayal while respecting the family’s sensitivities.
Ultimately, the controversy surrounding the biopic did not deter viewership, with 3.2 million tuning in to watch, making it the second-highest-rated television film of 2014.
R&B singer Brian McKnight stirred up controversy last week after he made comments about his children ‘made out of sin’ and his estranged son’s battle with cancer. Now, McKnight is claiming that his ex-wife, Julie McKnight, prevented him from offering assistance to their son Niko, who is currently battling Stage 4 cancer.
During his weekly Q&A session on Instagram, McKnight responded to a fan suggestion about writing a song for his son, stating, “Six months ago, we found out about this [Niko’s cancer diagnosis]. We called him. We talked to him, we talked to his wife. She told us that she was all alone and handling everything all by herself.”
McKnight, 54, went on to describe how he and his current wife, Leilani Mendoza, took proactive steps to help Niko by seeking out medical specialists and securing treatment facilities. However, McKnight claimed that his efforts were halted by Julie, who allegedly made a hostile phone call demanding him to cease his assistance.
“I can only imagine that if that help came from me, that it would go against the strong narrative that’s being pushed out there about me,” McKnight stated, referring to claims of him being a deadbeat father. “So what are we doing? We’re adhering to her wishes because that’s what she wanted and we’re staying out of it.”
Following McKnight’s statements, Julie provided a statement to Page Six, calling him a liar and accusing him of attempting to manipulate the situation for his own narrative.
The allegations have sparked outrage among fans and critics alike, who have condemned McKnight’s behavior as insensitive, particularly given Niko’s health struggles. Many have expressed disbelief at McKnight’s decision to publicly discuss such sensitive family matters and have called for him to prioritize his son’s well-being over personal disputes.
“So what are we doing?” The 17-time Grammy nominee added, “We’re adhering to her wishes because that’s what she wanted and we’re staying out of it.”
Brian concluded his response by saying he and his wife are “praying” for Niko.
On this date in 2002, the frontwoman of legendary R&B/Hip Hop trio TLC, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes was killed in an automobile crash in Honduras when he SUV swerved out of control, discharging all four passengers in the vehicle. Lopes was the only fatality in the accident. She was 30 years old.
Left Eye was undoubtedly one of the major creative forces of the group. She was responsible for the group’s image, album titles, artwork, music videos, and received the majority of the co-writing credits. The group received four Grammys for Best R&B album for CrazySexyCool in 1996, Best R&B Performance By Group With Vocals of “Creep” in 1996, Best R&B Album for Fan Mail in 2000, and Best R&B Performance By Group With Vocals for “Scrubs” in 2000.
Left Eye went on to pursue a short solo career, scoring two top ten singles for “Not Tonight” and “U Know What’s Up”, and a #1 UK single for “Never Be The Same Again”. Lisa is still the only TLC member to release a solo album.
The last moments of left Eye’s life were captured in a documentary titled The Last Days of Left Eye showing the artist’s last 27 days alive, which aired in May 2007.
Apple TV+ has released the first trailer for The Big Cigar, the highly anticipated limited drama series that chronicles the story of Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton’s escape to Cuba. Premiering globally on May 17, the six-episode drama is executive produced by NAACP Image Award winner Janine Sherman Barrois, Jim Hecht, and Joshuah Bearman.
Legendary award-winning actor, producer, and director Don Cheadle will direct and executive produce the first two episodes with new episodes available to stream every Friday until June 14. André Holland portrays Huey P. Newton and leads the renowned ensemble cast including Alessandro Nivola, Tiffany Boone, P. J. Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Moses Ingram, Rebecca Dalton, Olli Haaskivi, Jordane Christie, and Glynn Turman.
“The Big Cigar” is a mostly true story based on a monumental, eponymous Playboy Magazine article penned by executive producer, Joshuah Bearman (“Argo”). In the series, Black Panther Party founder Newton escapes from the FBI to Cuba with the assistance of famed Hollywood producer Bert Schneider. The impossibly elaborate plan turns into a wild caper and involves a fake movie production gone wrong in every way possible!
