Hip Hop News

2021-2022 NBA Season: Opening Night & Finals Dates Revealed

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Over the last two NBA seasons, we have had some unique changes to the schedule due to COVID-19. Of course, during the 2019-2020 season, the league was forced to suspend its operations until late July-early August. Once the league started up again, they played all the way until October, which is when the proceeding season would have been starting under normal circumstances. As a result, the current season started in December and is now set to end in the middle of July.

Thanks to Shams Charania of The Athletic, we now have a plethora of important dates for next season. As you can see, things are officially going back to normal and fans have every reason to be excited. The first game of the year will be on October 19th, and the NBA Finals will start on June 2nd of 2022. Needless to say, the NBA is officially going to see some normalcy again.

With people throughout the United States getting vaccinated, it seems reasonable to assume that NBA arenas throughout the United States will be at full capacity next season. Even the Toronto Raptors should be able to return to their home at Scotiabank Arena, as opposed to playing another season in Tampa Bay.

Either way, next season is going to be a lot of fun and there is plenty to be excited about. 

Adam Silver

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Cordae And Young Thug Run A Fight Club In Their Murky ‘Wassup’ Video

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Of all the songs on Cordae’s new EP Just Until, the one that seemed to intrigue fans the most was “Wassup,” which featured Young Thug. Perhaps fans weren’t expecting to see those names paired together on a tracklist but with Cordae collaborating with Roddy Ricch and Young Thug trading bars with J. Cole, it doesn’t seem like that far of a reach, in hindsight.

Today, Cordae and Thug shared the video for their back-and-forth track, adopting a storyline about an underground fight club they run with ruthless efficiency. The two rappers trade belligerent bars as Cordae shows off his pugilistic prowess, knocking out one challenger after another. In the video’s denouement, Thugger counts up their winnings while giving a subtle shout-out to Cordae’s new label endeavor, Hi-Level Productions.

In more expected collaborations from Cordae, the young rapper with an old soul, the former YBN member was tapped to work with his hero Eminem and Jack Harlow on the remix of “Killer.” It seems that even though Cordae was reportedly blocked from appearing on Em’s longtime compeer Royce Da 5’9’s album, turning down a guest spot from the Rap God was too good an opportunity to pass up. With co-signs from both rap icons and contemporary favorites, Cordae certainly has plenty of eyes on his upcoming follow-up to The Lost Boy.

Watch Cordae’s “Wassup” video with Young Thug above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Jon Batiste Proves That Movement Is Medicine In His Euphoric ‘Freedom’ Video

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Academy Award, BAFTA, and Golden Globe-winning musician Jon Batiste released his soulful album We Are last month. The multi-hyphenate musician has shared a handful of triumphant visuals alongside his LP and now, Batiste returns with a jubilant video to his funk-forward track “Freedom.”

The colorful visual is an ode to his New Orleans hometown, community, and Black joy. It opens with the singer exiting a vintage car on a busy neighborhood street. As he begins to dance, his happiness is infectious. Eventually, he’s followed by an entire parade of dancers and band players marching down some of New Orleans’ recognizable streets.

In a statement given to Apple Music about some of the themes he explores on We Are, Batiste said:

“I like to use the inspiration from the past and combine it with the things that are in the present to create the future. We’re finally at a point where we’re starting to untangle the way that my grandparents, and even my parents, experienced America. It feels like the culmination in the coming of age of what many generations have built, fought for, and poured into. As heavy as these themes are, the overall message of the album is love, joy, and community. That, and also the power of social revolution, in the sense of what we have to do in the culture to make room for everybody to be able to fully be who they are.”

Watch Batiste’s “Freedom” video above.

We Are is out now via Verve. Get it here.

Megan Thee Stallion Explains Why She Made “Thot Sh*t”

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Megan Thee Stallion is gearing up to return from her brief hiatus, having recently confirmed that her comeback single “Thot Shit” is dropping at midnight tonight. After taking a month and a bit to recharge, the Grammy-Winning rapper is looking to pick up exactly where she left off thematically speaking, much to the delight of her loyal fanbase. 

Though we have yet to hear what the track itself is all about, Megan recently provided a bit of perspective on what drove her to pen the inevitably bawdy and debaucherous comeback single. “I’m really just talking shit and taking ownership of the words “thot” and “hoe” bc they’re not the drag the men think it is when trying to come at women for doing them,” writes Megan, affirming that “Thot Shit” will be heavy on the empowerment tip.

Megan Thee Stallion

 Kevin Mazur/Getty Images 

It should be interesting to see how Megan’s new music sounds. The sophomore studio release always comes with a bit of added pressure, though Thee Stallion has proven herself to be unflappable in the face of public scrutiny. On that note, one has to wonder if “Thot Shit” will follow “WAP’s” lead as another hypersexualized anthem determined to push boundaries in certain circles. After all, if we’ve learned anything from Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name) debacle, sex still sells and probably always will. 

Should there be an accompanying music video as presumed, don’t be surprised to see this one make plenty of noise come midnight. Be sure to keep an eye out — not that it’ll be easy to miss — for “Thot Shit,” Megan’s first release since her hiatus. 

Jacquees Denies Cocaine Use Allegations

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Jacquees and his girlfriend Dreezy were involved in a physical altercation with a man during a recent vacation in Mexico. After the man allegedly punched Dreezy in the face, Jacquees “body-slammed” him to the ground and stomped him out. Following the altercation, the man involved in the fight claims they started arguing after he allegedly refused to sell the couple weed. He also claimed that the couple tried to purchase cocaine from him, which Jacquees is denying.

Addressing the allegations briefly during his latest session on Instagram Live, Jacquees said that he doesn’t use cocaine. “Nah, my boy. We don’t do that one,” said the singer, responding to a fan who asked if he takes coke. “You dig? Give a fuck what you heard. Give a fuck what a n***a talkin’ ’bout. We ain’t on that one, kid. I don’t even address shit like that but I must address you, fly boy.”


Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

Dreezy previously told her side of the story, explaining what happened after a video of their fight went viral on social media. She said that she threw her shoe at the man after security held her back from getting involved.

Watch Jacquees address the cocaine use allegations below and let us know what you think.

Cordae & Young Thug Hit A Fight Club In “Wassup” Video

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Cordae may have positioned himself as a lover, not a fighter — but that doesn’t mean the lyricist won’t dabble in the latter category if provoked. Evidently, a spooky and tense instrumental from Take A Daytrip has taken the generally peaceful Cordae’s aggression meter to ten, culminating in a raw new video from the acclaimed lyricist.

Directed by Matt Earl and shot by Franklin Ricart, the clip finds Cordae and Thugger entering an underground fight club. Unsurprisingly, the rappers command attention through detached swagger and confidence, and before long Cordae is entering the ring. Despite the fact that his opponents clearly outweigh — not to mention out-aggro — the young rapper, Cordae’s technique and shifty footwork make him a constant threat.

To his credit, Thugger doesn’t opt to participate in the bloodsport, but his stylish attire and slick video-game-character aesthetic keep him in line with the ruffians. Visually, the whole of “Wassup” is extremely well constructed, featuring some of the tightest editing (also handled by director Matt Earl) we’ve seen in a music video this year. Though it might be difficult for some to buy into Cordae’s tough-guy persona, the rapper sells it with enough conviction to make haters second-guess saying such criticism to his face.

Check out “Wassup” now, and stay tuned for Cordae’s upcoming album From A Bird’s Eye View, set to arrive at some point later this year. 

Roddy Ricch Speaks On His Grammy Awards Rant Directed At Kanye West

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After being nominated at the Grammy Awards this year, Compton-based rapper Roddy Ricch ranted on Instagram Live about how people perceived his accomplishments, complaining that one of his idols, Kanye West, lessened the value of a Grammy Award by sharing a video of himself urinating on one of his trophies. 

“If I get nominated for six Grammys, and a n***a I look to have twenty-five of these muthaf*ckas, and I come in here and I want to get nominated for six this year,” said Roddy in March 2021. “I feel that’s a good number. And this year, the n***a just piss on that sh*t. How you think that made the world look at my accomplishment? That I worked for. I did all this sh*t! And you pissing on sh*t. That sh*t be lame.”

At the time, it was perceived as though Roddy was throwing a jab at Kanye. During his latest interview with Big Boy’s Neighborhood, the 22-year-old superstar spoke about his rant, clarifying what he meant.

“I feel like what I was saying, I needed to gather my thoughts more and say it how I wanted to say it. What I was saying was I grew up looking to a Kanye or Jay as like, if I do this, I wanna have twenty [Grammys] because that’s what they did,” explained Roddy. “When I seen [Kanye] pissing on a Grammy, it kinda rubbed me wrong ’cause I was like, damn n***a, now that I’m getting nominated, I feel like everybody’s sh*tting on the accolades. Now, it’s like it don’t even matter. Now that I look back on it, it’s like, I don’t really give a f*ck about it like that. But in that moment, that’s more so what I was thinking. No disrespect to Kanye because he’s a legend. He’s the guy. I pulled up on him, we chopped it up so it ain’t no disrespect to him.”

Check out Roddy Ricch’s explanation below.

Doja Cat Shares Sultry Cover Art For Upcoming Single “Need To Know”

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Doja Cat has been teasing her official follow-up to 2019’s Hot Pink since the end of 2020, and after several months of keeping fans waiting, Doja recently revealed that Planet Her, her long-awaited third studio album, would finally be dropping on June 25. 

On Wednesday, the “Kiss Me More” artist shared Planet Her‘s intergalactic album artwork, which was helmed by the prolific David LaChapelle. In addition to the dynamic and steamy cover, Doja Cat also unveiled the album’s tracklist and features, revealing that Young Thug, J.I.D, SZA, Ariana Grande, and The Weeknd would all be appearing on the project. Now, less than 24 hours later, Doja has hit Instagram to tease her imminent new single, “Need To Know.”

Doja Cat attends the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, which was broadcast live on FOX on May 27, 2021.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Shot by Los Angeles-based director and photographer Jamal Peters, the eye-catching cover art for Doja Cat’s forthcoming single sticks with the otherworldly theme from Planet Her‘s artwork, and it features a teal-skinned Doja Cat sitting on a plush red couch with her legs spread open.

“NEED TO KNOW Music Video 6/11 10am EST,” the Amala artist writes in the caption, teasing the song’s accompanying music video. Check out the sultry cover art for “Need To Know” below and be on the lookout for Doja’s new single when it arrives on Friday.

Quavo + Ex-NBA Champ Kendrick Perkins Trade Big Shots

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Atlanta rapper Quavo and former Boston Celtics champion Kendrick Perkins are meeting face-to-face to get big things off their chests. Following a few days of social media trolling, the Southern-bred stars took their problems with one another to a heated on-screen debate. Quavo + Ex-NBA Champ Kendrick Perkins Clash The drama ignited during an ESPN […]

The post Quavo + Ex-NBA Champ Kendrick Perkins Trade Big Shots appeared first on SOHH.com.

Bia Brings Her TikTok Hit ‘Whole Lotta Money’ To A Boisterous ‘UPROXX Sessions’ Performance

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If you’ve been on TikTok at any point in the last two months, the odds are extremely high you’ve heard Bia’s “Whole Lotta Money” at least once — I’d ballpark it at around 96%. The ruthlessly catchy wealth anthem has been a staple of all kinds of content, but today, you get to see the face and the razor-sharp performance behind the jewelry jam on UPROXX Sessions.

Hailing from Medford, Massachusetts, Bia is one of a growing number of rising stars to get her start on a reality show. In her case, it was Oxygen network’s Sisterhood Of Hip Hop, where she spent two seasons after signing to RCA Records. However, when the deal stalled out, she secured her release in 2019 — and started her ascent to stardom in earnest. Her song “Best On Earth” with Russ was highlighted by a Rihanna co-sign and gave Bia her first platinum plaque. Over the course of the next year, a string of releases included “Same Hands” with Lil Durk, a new EP, For Certain, on Epic Records, and yes, the TikTok-favorite single with which she’s taken over viral launching pad TikTok. Keep an eye and an ear out; Bia is built for this and finally getting her due.

Watch Bia’s UPROXX Sessions performance of “Whole Lotta Money” above.

UPROXX Sessions is Uproxx’s performance show featuring the hottest up-and-coming acts you should keep an eye on. Featuring creative direction from LA promotion collective, Ham On Everything, and taking place on our “bathroom” set designed and painted by Julian Gross, UPROXX Sessions is a showcase of some of our favorite performers, who just might soon be yours, too.