Hip Hop News

LeBron James’ Iconic “Chosen One” Jersey to Hit Auction Block, Expected to Break Records

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Lebron James The King

A jersey worn by LeBron James on the iconic Sports Illustrated cover that labeled him “The Chosen One” is set to be auctioned next month. The Athletic reports that the historic jersey will be featured at a Julien’s Auctions event in Hong Kong. James wore the uniform during a game as a junior at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, on the same day he shot the cover, which helped cement his status as a basketball prodigy.

Early estimates suggest the jersey could fetch between $1 to $2 million, potentially setting a new record for the highest price ever paid for a game-worn high school jersey. The auction has generated significant buzz among collectors and fans, with many eager to own a piece of sports history tied to one of basketball’s all-time greats.

The post LeBron James’ Iconic “Chosen One” Jersey to Hit Auction Block, Expected to Break Records first appeared on The Source.

The post LeBron James’ Iconic “Chosen One” Jersey to Hit Auction Block, Expected to Break Records appeared first on The Source.

Happy 65th Birthday To Hip Hop Cultural Icon Fab 5 Freddy!

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Fabfreddy smoking

What dictates cool? Originality, tenacity, courage, creativity?  Is it the will to stand alone beside your own thoughts and ideas or simply just being the first and flyest to ever do”it”? Whatever the definition may be, Bedford-Stuyvesant’s own Fab 5 Freddy was its embodiment throughout the ’80s and ’90s. As the host of Hip Hop’s most important TV show Yo! MTV Raps! Fab brought Hip Hop culture to the living rooms of millions of Americans and thousands abroad. Through the sheer exposure alone, Fab 5 Freddy turned Hip Hop from an underground subculture to the dominating force of a blooming international popular culture.

For a long time, Yo! MTV Raps! was Hip Hop’s grandest stage. It was the Soul Train for the 80s generation and paved the way for shows like TRL and 106 & Park. As its host, Fab Five Freddy was the public’s ambassador to a new and exploding scene. Some of the most historical moments of the culture happened behind Fab Five Freddy’s microphone, and in honor of his born day here is a list of some of the most memorable.

1989 Grammy Boycott

In 1989 The Grammy’s awarded their first Hip hop Grammy to DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince for “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” What could have been a huge moment for Hip Hop culture was turned into a farce. Although the award was given out, the Grammys refused to televise the reception speech. This discrimination outraged the rap community and caused a widespread anti-Grammy campaign to get underway. Fab Five Freddy was actually on the scene and able to get a short interview with The Fresh Prince and Jazzy Jeff about the incident that can be seen in full here.

Interviewing 2Pac with Digital Underground

In one of 2Pac‘s earliest interviews, Fab Five Freddy gets a chance to pick the brain of a young man who would grow to become one of the most influential figures in Hip Hop.

Leaders of the New School Break Up 

In one of the tensest interviews ever conducted on Yo! MTV Raps, one of New York’s brightest groups, completely self-destructed on screen. Leaders of the New School had already been under scrutiny with rumors of standout Busta Rhymes looking to venture onto a solo career.  What started as a normal interview broke apart into the group stepping off-camera to have a heated discussion. When the pow-wow finally broke up, Busta Rhymes apologized for the group’s actions, concluding the interview. The group officially announced its parting ways in the week following the interview.

Grand Finale Freestyle 

In 1995 MTV decided to pull the plug on Yo! MTV Raps. What resulted was one of television’s greatest show finales of all time. With a cypher featuring Rakim, MC Serch, Erick Sermon, Chubb Rock, and a few other legends, Yo! MTV Raps bid a fond farewell to the fans and supporters that tuned in day after day for their daily dose of Hip Hop culture.

The post Happy 65th Birthday To Hip Hop Cultural Icon Fab 5 Freddy! first appeared on The Source.

The post Happy 65th Birthday To Hip Hop Cultural Icon Fab 5 Freddy! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: UGK’s Second LP ‘Super Tight…’ Turns 30 Years Old!

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On this day in Hip-Hop history, Houston’s own UGK released their second studio LP Super Tight… As the duo’s first project to make an appearance on the Billboard 200 chart, this album marked their transition from underground superstars to legitimate Hip Hop legends in the making.

With this album, it is obvious that the group had begun to refine its engineering abilities. Their usual rough around the edges sounds quality has been revamped allowing for cleaner vocals and crisper production. With the new quality also came a new fan base. Rap fans across the country were beginning to acknowledge Hip Hop coming from the south as the new sound. The smooth southern style of Pimp C and Bun B was a pleasant change from the growing hardcore scene that was growing on the East Coast and pistol gripping gun-slinging gangster rap that came from the West.

Commercially, the album was a breakthrough. Peaking at #95 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 370,000 copies nationwide, Super Tight… was UGK’s most popular album to date and set up their rise to power as the Kings of Texas rap.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: UGK’s Second LP ‘Super Tight…’ Turns 30 Years Old! first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: UGK’s Second LP ‘Super Tight…’ Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Travis Scott Releases 5 New Drops From ‘Days Before Rodeo’ Era

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To commemorate 10 years since the release of his most lauded and iconic DAYS BEFORE RODEO mixtape, Travis Scott releases DAYS BEFORE RODEO – LIVE FROM ATLANTA, XX DBR CHOPPED & SCREWED Edition, plus VAULT 1, 2 & 3 — each available now, and only on shop.travisscott.com.

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Available for a limited amount of time, fans can own five versions of the most coveted bites from the DBR era vault, as well as the full set, performed by Travis Scott live in Atlanta last week for one night only.

DAYS BEFORE RODEO was re-released on all digital streaming platforms for the first time on August 23 to celebrate its 10th anniversary and a decade of groundbreaking influence.
 
This seminal project is celebrated for its transformative impact on hip-hop, heralding a new era of sonic innovation and playing a crucial role in shaping today’s music and culture. This exclusive digital deluxe album  will feature unreleased  bonus tracks from Travis Scott’s Days Before Rodeo Era as well as exclusive merch and vinyl bundles will be available on shop.travisscott.com.

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Travis originally released DAYS BEFORE RODEO in 2014 as his second mixtape, almost a full year before his debut album “Rodeo” arrived. Featuring an impressive lineup of guest appearances from Young Thug, Big Sean, The 1975, Rich Homie Quan, Migos, T.I., and Peewee Longway, the mixtape introduced a new era of progressive trap production that contributed to the genesis of some of today’s most influential artists, including Young Thug, Metro Boomin, and Migos. The project stands as a testament to Scott’s visionary approach, marking a monumental moment in music.
 
Tracks like “Mamacita,” featuring Rich Homie Quan and Young Thug, and “Don’t Play,” featuring Big Sean and The 1975, underscore the mixtape’s impact, blending moody production with dynamic collaborations that captivated both fans and critics. The gritty production, crafted by Metro Boomin, Lex Luger, FKi, Wondagurl,and Travis Scott himself, set a new tone for hip-hop and played a pivotal role in shaping its direction in today’s culture. The re-release of DAYS BEFORE RODEO, offers both longtime fans and new listeners worldwide the chance to experience a project that has profoundly influenced the music industry. Hailed as one of the best mixtapes of the 2010s, DAYS BEFORE RODEO  was instrumental in redefining the sonic landscape of hip -hop and amplifies Travis Scott’s enduring legacy and trailblazing contributions to music.

The post Travis Scott Releases 5 New Drops From ‘Days Before Rodeo’ Era first appeared on The Source.

The post Travis Scott Releases 5 New Drops From ‘Days Before Rodeo’ Era appeared first on The Source.

TLC’s T-Boz Breaks Silence After Hospitalization Due to Severe Abdominal Blockage

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T-Boz, the iconic singer from TLC, has spoken out for the first time following her recent hospitalization for a “severe abdominal blockage.” The medical emergency forced T-Boz, whose real name is Tionne Watkins, and the legendary R&B group to cancel their August 23 performance at the New York State Fair and another show at Foxwoods.

A statement shared by TLC on social media shortly after the incident explained, “Shortly after arriving in Syracuse, Tionne ‘T-Boz’ Watkins experienced sudden and severe nausea, vomiting, and intense abdominal cramps. She was immediately seen by a doctor and subsequently taken to the hospital for further evaluation.”

Following days of concern from fans and supporters, T-Boz broke her silence with a heartfelt post on Instagram, providing a health update and expressing her gratitude for the support she has received. “I’m on The Mend!!! This Was Just One Of Those Unexpected Things That I Had No Control Over! I Look Forward To Making It Up 2 You All… And Hopefully I’ll Get Out Of The Hospital Soon!!! As Soon As Tomorrow If All Goes Well!!! Thank You For Understanding… Blessings Always T❤ #tboz #Tbeezy #TLC,” she wrote.

TLC fans were quick to send their best wishes to T-Boz, expressing support and love for the singer. One fan, @joyluvphotography, wrote, “TBoz focus on your health Hon. Don’t trip off of being there for us fans. You’ve given us decades of yourself. Your health is number 1. We ain’t going nowhere. We’ll support you and Chili forever. We love y’all but ya health more important Sista.🙏🏾🤗”

Another fan, @xo.tarzan, added, “Real fans would have been okay with a, ‘Guys, I’m sick.’ & understood! We love youuuuu!” Singer and producer @iam_mali commented, “Sis Praying and knowing that God has you. You don’t need to apologize to anyone. You have the sweetest heart and everyone who knows you knows your heart 💯💝 and that you would be there if you could. Love you babe get well ❤️‍🩹.”

TLC’s next scheduled performances are on Saturday, August 31, in Highland Park, Illinois, and Sunday, September 1, in Welch, Minnesota. Fans are hopeful that T-Boz will be well enough to perform and continue the tour.

TLC, originally a trio with T-Boz, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas, and Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes, rose to fame in the 1990s as pioneers blending R&B and hip hop. The group achieved massive success with chart-topping hits such as “Waterfalls,” “No Scrubs,” “Creep,” and “Unpretty,” solidifying their place in music history. Tragically, Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes died in a car accident in Honduras in 2002, but the group’s legacy has continued strong with T-Boz and Chilli keeping the music alive.

T-Boz’s recovery remains a top priority, and fans are looking forward to seeing her back on stage, healthy and thriving.

The post TLC’s T-Boz Breaks Silence After Hospitalization Due to Severe Abdominal Blockage first appeared on The Source.

The post TLC’s T-Boz Breaks Silence After Hospitalization Due to Severe Abdominal Blockage appeared first on The Source.