HALL OF FAME

Nas & Lil Wayne Inducted Into Billboard’s Hip-Hop Hall Of Fame, Ice Spice Wins 1st Award

by

Nas and Lil Wayne have officially been inducted into Billboard‘s newfound Hip Hop Hall of Fame. The two reflected on the honor during the publication’s 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players event in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Additionally, Ice Spice accepted an award for the 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Year at the event.

Billboard‘s Executive Director of R&B/Hip Hop, Gail Mitchell, introduced Lil Wayne to the stage for the Hall of Fame honor. Once Weezy got to the mic, he told the audience: “You already know I gotta give thanks to the man up above. Also, those that we lost, those that we wish were here, we thank you as well… And to my fans, I think I worded it the best way when I said I ain’t shit without you. This is for y’all, y’all as in my fans, those in the crowd, my supporters, those that work for me, those that work with me, those that work around me, those that work like me. This is for us.” Before getting off state, he teased working on new music.

Read More: Dr. Dre Inducts Eminem Into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Nas & Lil Wayne At Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Live

Lil Wayne, Reginae Carter, Destiny Jones, Nas at Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Live held at The Novo on August 8, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)

As for Nas’ induction, he reflected on his career, explaining that he never got into hip-hop for the recognition. “I didn’t get into it for awards; we got into it because we love the artform,” he said. “50 years of Hip Hop and we have a concert at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. 50 years of Hip Hop saluting some of the pioneers who inspired me…since DJ Mr. Magic started rap radio, since Marley Mall and Red Alert made us record mixtapes of our own when this shit was underground.”

Nas & Lil Wayne Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Nas continued: “From seeing it from back then, I’m just so honored to still be alive to see it be 50 years as a fan. So I want to thank you all for getting awards at 49, not when I was 29. But I appreciate you. I ain’t gonna lie, I stayed away from award shows back then, I thought that shit was the devil … But it ain’t. You make it what it is.” As for Ice Spice’s award, she kept things brief on stage. She gushed: “Ahh, this is cr*zy! This is like my first award ever in life, so I’m super proud.”

Read More: Missy Elliott Reacts To Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction

[Via]

The post Nas & Lil Wayne Inducted Into Billboard’s Hip-Hop Hall Of Fame, Ice Spice Wins 1st Award appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Dirk Nowitzki On Relationship With Dwyane Wade: “I Wouldn’t Say We’re Friends”

by

Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki reflected on his relationship with longtime Miami Heat rival, Dwyane Wade, during a recent interview with Marc Stein on The Saturday Stein Line.

“I wouldn’t say we’re friends,” the former NBA Most Valuable Player said. “I think there’s a mutual sense of respect for each other’s career and obviously were cordial.” Nowitzki further clarified: “There’s no bad blood, obviously, anymore. We all moved on, things were said on both sides or done that neither side liked, but that’s part of competition at the highest level.”

Read More: Dwyane Wade Celebrates Entering Hall Of Fame With Heartfelt Post

Dirk Nowitzki & Dwyane Wade At A Hall Of Fame Press Conference

HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 01: (L-R) Dirk Nowitzki. Tony Parker, and Dwyane Wade look on during the 2023 Naismith Hall of Fame Press Conference at N.R.G. Stadium on April 01, 2023 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

Joining Wade and Nowitzki in the latest Hall of Fame class are Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Pau Gasol, and Manu Ginobili. “I’m both humbled and honored to have made it to basketball heaven,” Wade said after the class was announced.

In a separate interview with The Dallas Morning News, Nowitzki expressed his excitement to be joining the star-studded class. “The fact that I’m going in with Tony and Manu and Pau is wonderful,” Nowitzki told the outlet. “We competed internationally against each other for a long, long time, and then obviously some huge games in the NBA, so it’s kind of great how that worked.”

When asked about Wade, Nowitzki elaborated on how they’ve reached the aforementioned “cordial” state of their relationship. “We sat together with his family during one of the dinners, and we talked,” Nowitzki said. “And so I think it’s going to be great. I think there’s a lot of mutual respect there now. I know we’ve gone through some stuff in our careers, but at the end of the day not everybody you compete against at the highest level can be friends. It’s just not how it works. I think there were some things said on both sides that weren’t liked by the other side, but you know what? This is 20-something years later now, almost. So there’s really no hard feelings, and it’s gonna be a fun week with him.” The 2023 enshrinement ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 12.

Read More: LeBron James Reacts To Dwyane Wade’s Latest Achievement

[Via]

The post Dirk Nowitzki On Relationship With Dwyane Wade: “I Wouldn’t Say We’re Friends” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Snoop Dogg Pulls Out Of Songwriters Hall Of Fame Ceremony, Cites “Personal Reasons”

by

Just a few days before the dinner celebrating this year’s inductees to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, one honoree has pulled out. Snoop Dogg surprised fans when he announced he was backing out of the honor for personal reasons. According to Billboard, Snoop Dogg has deferred his induction and currently plans to join the hall next year. While it’s unclear specifically what causes Snoop to make this decision, he isn’t the first to take this route. Sade also deferred her induction to a future class, also expected to be in 2024.

The other five songwriters set to be honored appear to still be on board for the ceremony a few days from now. Post Malone is also set to be honored by the hall with the Hal David Starlight Award. The award “was established to honor gifted songwriters who are at an apex in their careers and are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.”  The Hall Of Fame seeks to honor those who craft notable songs and has approximately 400 members.

Snoop Dogg Waiting Till Next Year

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – MAY 03: Snoop Dogg attends the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference at The Beverly Hilton on May 03, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)

The news comes right after Snoop Dogg received another disappointment. After months of trying to become the first black owner of an NHL team Snoop ultimately missed his chance. Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer has bought the Ottawa Senators for $1 billion. The news comes after Snoop had already teased at becoming the team’s new owner with an Instagram post sporting custom sweatpants with the Senators logo.

Snoop also showed off another custom piece a few days ago. In a video posted to his Instagram, he flexed a huge new chain that pays tribute to east coast rap legends Wu-Tang Clan. The video featured one of the group’s songs playing over it while Snoop showed off his new drip. What do you think about Snoop Dogg and Sade deferring their Songwriters Hall of Fame induction until 2024? Let us know in the comment section below.

Read More: Snoop Dogg Admits Losing “Gin & Juice” Grammy Hurt

[Via]

The post Snoop Dogg Pulls Out Of Songwriters Hall Of Fame Ceremony, Cites “Personal Reasons” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Missy Elliott Reacts To Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction

by

Missy Elliott responded to the news that she’s a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023 in a series of tweets on Wednesday. After congratulating the other nominees, she thanked her fans, peers, and more.

“I want to say CONGRATULATIONS to all the other LEGENDARY artist who will now be inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” Elliott wrote. “They have committed DECADES of hard work and IMPACT on music. I thank you for the TIMELESS music you have shared with the World.” The Hall welcomed many other names including Kate Bush, Rage Against the Machine, Chaka Khan, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, and more.

Missy Elliott At The Grammys

Missy Elliott during The 44th Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)

Elliot wrote in her next tweet: “It’s times I have gotten on line & seen your irrelevant your a flop your washed up & it would crush me at times. BUT God you made me STRONG I kept going & you allowed my decades of WORK to SPEAK 4 itself. I am HUMBLED thank you all my Supporters. I LOVE YOU.” She then added: “If I miss some of yalls tweets please forgive me it’s a lot to see but I do want to say Thank You to my Fans (Supafriends) my Peers/Radio/Dj’s/Bloggers & again
@rockhall I am Thankful.”

Missy Elliott enters the hall during her first time being on the ballot. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman John Sykes says that her inclusion is indicative of the power of hip-hop. Both Eminem and JAY-Z have made it into The Hall in recent years. With her induction, Elliott joins an impressive list of legendary hip-hop artists already in the hall. Among them are Run-D.M.C., Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, N.W.A, 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, and more. The 38th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on November 3 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Check out Missy Elliot’s response to her induction on Twitter below.

Missy Elliott’s Responds To The Class Of 2023

[Via]

Dwyane Wade Celebrates Entering Hall Of Fame With Heartfelt Post

by

Dwyane Wade has always been a player who has let his basketball speak for itself. A well-regarded figure both on and off the court, Wade truly left his mark on the NBA. During a 16-year career, Wade was a three-time champion, and 13-time All-Star. Wade is also 32nd on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, with 23,165 career points. He is perhaps best remembered for his role in the “Big Three” alongside Chris Bosh and Lebron James. Wade was seen as a no-doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer upon his retirement. However, Wade remained active in basketball following his retirement, buying a minority sh in the Utah Jazz in 2021. Wade went as far as to call then-Jazz star Donovan Mitchell “Dwyane Wade 2.0”.

Wade was officially named a Hall of Famer last week. However, he also has the distinction of being part of one of the all-time greatest Hall of Fame classes. Wade enters the Hall alongside legends such as Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, and Becky Hammon. Other inductees included the late Jim Valvano and the 1976 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team. There are few single-year Hall of Fame classes that truly compete with those entering the Hall this year.

“Basketball Heaven”

Wade celebrated his induction on Instagram, posting a bevy of photos with the simple caption “I’m both humbled and honored to have made it to basketball heaven.” The photos he included see Wade embracing his collegiate coach Shaka Smart; posing with Julius Erving; sharing a laugh with Gasol, Parker, and Nowitzski; and finally, a picture posing with Magic Johnson. The collection showcased the full scope of Dwyane Wade’s career, from his time at Marquette to his dominance in the NBA. Marquette retired Wade’s number 3 jersey in 2006. The Heat retired the same number in 2020.

Wade’s simple but heartfelt message has garnered nearly 96,000 likes, speaking to the immense popularity of one of modern basketball’s brightest stars. Fans across social media offered their congratulations to Wade upon his official announcement on April 1. Wade, alongside his fellow 2023 classmates, will be officially inducted into the Hall during the weekend of August 11th. Let us know what you think of his induction, in the comments down below.

[via]

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar Dead At 45

by

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar has passed away at the age of 45. Bonnar reportedly died of presumed heart complications while at work. UFC president Dana White confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday.

“Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon,” White told UFC.com after his passing. “His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. The fans loved him, related to him and he always gave them his best. He will be missed.”

LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 06: (L-R) Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar pose for photos with their UFC Hall of Fame plaques during the UFC Fan Expo Las Vegas 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center on July 6, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Powers/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Bonnar made a name for himself during the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. He took on Forrest Griffin in the final fight. It is widely considered one of the most important bouts in the sport’s history. Both fighters were inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013.

“The UFC family is saddened by the passing of UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends,” a post from the UFC’s social media accounts reads.

All-in-all, Bonnar competed in mixed martial arts for 13 years from 2001-14. He finished his career 15-9 in 24 bouts. During his career, he fought numerous future and former UFC champions, including Griffin, Tito Ortiz, Anderson Silva, Rashad Evans, Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida, and Mark Coleman.

Outside of fighting, Bonnar has also worked as an MMA analyst for both ESPN and Fox Sports. Additionally, he made multiple appearances with Impact Wrestling in 2019.

[Via]

LeBron James Reacts To Dwyane Wade’s Latest Achievement

by

LeBron James has had some amazing teammates throughout the last 20 years. Of course, his most famous is Dwyane Wade. These two played four seasons together on the Miami Heat. Overall, they made four-straight Finals all while securing two titles.

Wade has three NBA titles to his name while LeBron has four. There is no doubt that they are one of the greatest duos to ever do it. Furthermore, they are both future Hall of Famers. This is especially true now that Wade is a finalist for the 2023 class.

LeBron James #23 and Dwyane Wade #9 of the Cleveland Cavaliers warms up before the game against the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

LeBron James x D-Wade

Wade is part of a potential class that includes the likes of Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Pau Gasol, and Dirk Nowitzki. It is very likely that all of these men become first-ballot Hall of Famers. It would be an amazing honor and one that Wade certainly deserves.

Consequently, LeBron James seems to feel the exact same way. After the news broke on social media, LeBron took to Twitter with a message for his friend. “Congrats to my brother @DwyaneWade on being on the eligible candidate HOF list!! I mean he ain’t no candidate, he’s IN!!!!! Hahaha!” he wrote.

LeBron is absolutely right about this. Wade is one of the best shooting guards to ever play the game. Overall, it would be an injustice for him to not be a first-ballot Hall of Fame player. After all, there are plenty of other first-ballot guys who ended up doing less than him.

Let us know what you think of Wade’s Hall of Fame chances, in the comments below. Also, beneath this post, you will find some of LeBron and D-Wade’s best plays as teammates. After watching, perhaps your opinion will be swayed.

As always, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the sneaker world.

[Via]