Anyone who is even sort of plugged into hoop Twitter or follows sports accounts on Instagram has likely learned of Hansel Enmanuel, an 18-year-old basketball player at Life Christian Academy in Kissimmee, Florida who has become a viral sensation for his play against other top high schoolers. While his flashy passes and dunks would be impressive enough on their own, they are made all the more so by his handicap; due to a childhood accident, the Dominican Republic-born Hansel only has one arm.
It’s a safe bet that’s where J. Cole, a hoops head and inspirational story in his own right, first learned of the young star, and perhaps sensing a kindred, underdog spirit, Cole scooped him up to appear in his latest ad for his Dreamer brand. Produced by Pomp&Clout and directed by Scott Lazer and J. Cole, “The Audacity II” simply features Enmanuel dribbling the ball in front of the camera, changing up the rhythm, tempo, and direction in a drill meant to display his focus and stamina as Cole narrates.
I got to keep it 100 with you. They don’t think you can do it. They look at you and all they see is a man standing in front of a mountain that’s too big to scare. But I believe in you. Sh*t you made me a believer cause I see how much you believe in yourself. Why else would you work this hard? Sh*t, I ain’t gonna lie, they surprised you made it this far. Now, quietly in the back of their minds, there’s a tiny thought that wonders how far you can actually go with this. And I know something they don’t know. That the answer to that question, my boy… is up to you.
As much as he’s known for his word-twisting rhymes and penchant for creating his own slang terms, Gunna has developed a reputation for being a fashion aficionado, even receiving an outfit co-sign from the “Fashion Killa” herself, Rihanna. Now, he’s put his own spin on that iconic video, this time for his own DS4EVER single, “You & Me,” which features his own possible musical match, Chloe Bailey.
As the two stars wander through the round racks in a massive showroom, they pose and mug a mirror, which Chloe leaves a big kiss on. They also hit a honeymoon suite, complete with a heart-shaped bed covered in roses for an aerial shot of the couple getting extra cozy. Then, Gunna performs his heartfelt verses from inside a phone booth while wearing a jacket bearing a giant “P” on the back as a nod to his fan-favorite new song and habit of using the emoji to signify his approval.
“You & Me” is just one of the standout tracks from Gunna’s latest album, which also launched the singles “Too Easy,” “Livin Wild,” “Pushin P,” and “P Power.”
Watch Gunna’s “You & Me” video featuring Chloe Bailey above.
DS4EVER is out now via YSL/300 Entertainment. Get it here.
Over the past week, Kanye West has drawn plenty of attention for his posts goading ex-wife Kim Kardashian and her new boyfriend Pete Davidson. His all-caps tirades included accusations that Kardashian tried to kidnap their children and prevent him from seeing them, while she tried to get him to address their family issues privately. However, today, he deleted those posts and appeared to take a new tack in dealing with the situation.
“I’ve learned that using all caps makes people feel like I’m screaming at them,” he wrote in the caption of a new, more moderate-seeming post. “I’m working on my communication. I can benefit from a team of creative professionals, organizers, mobilizers and community leaders. Thank everybody for supporting me. I know sharing screen shots was jarring and came off as harassing Kim. I take accountability. I’m still learning in real time. I don’t have all the answers. To be good leader is to be a good listener.”
Spring is around the corner (finally!), which means weekly beach trips, fruity cocktails, and outdoor adventures are soon to make their return to our everyday lives. Perhaps the most exciting springtime staple of them all is the slew of music festivals to come in 2022.
One of the first festivals on the spring lineup is M3F — a non-profit festival in downtown Phoenix, Arizona happening on March 4th and 5th. The two-day event, which donates 100 percent of proceeds to charity, will feature performances by ZHU, Leon Bridges, Kaytranada, Jungle, Parcels, Spafford, A R I Z O N A, Bryce Vine, Surf Mesa, and a whole gang of other highly recognized artists.
It’s safe to say M3F is worth making the weekend trip to Phoenix for on its own. But if you’re visiting the “Valley of the Sun” for the festival and you’re looking for the best things to eat, do, and see while you’re in town — you know, when you’re not raging to ear-blasting music in a crowd — keep reading below. Spafford, a Phoenix-based band on the M3F lineup, is giving you the rundown on their favorite local (and local-adjacent) gems.
I’ve been lucky to live across the street from Salazar Bros for many years and probably have consumed more burritos from this hole-in-the-wall than any other since I moved to Arizona in 2003. Their food has always been consistently great quality, super-fast, and muy delicioso.
Go for the California Burrito — sour cream on the side and an orange Fanta. Ask for the red salsa.
Salt River
@andydilling
Salt River is one of my favorite places to go when I need nature fast. There are many pull-offs and recreation areas leading all the way up the river with beautiful views of the mountains that surround it. My family’s favorite spot is Coon Bluff. It is great for hiking, fishing, and swimming. There is a great chance you will run into wild horses as well!
When you really want to get out and beat the heat or spend a few days camped out in close proximity to some hot springs, there is no place like Fossil Creek and the old Childs-Irving Power Plant. It’s a little bit of a drive from Phoenix but worth it on a hot summer day.
Amazing waterfalls, a journey to a hot spring, what’s not to love?
One of my favorite memories is going to LoLo’s Chicken and Waffles down the street from Last Exit Live before shows. Being a southern boy from Tennessee, it’s hard for me to turn down fried chicken and Kool-Aid! I suggest the Tre Tre with a large jar of Red Kool-Aid.
If you want a delicious, house-roasted pick-me-up and a modern, hip environment to hang out in, Cartel Roasting Co. is the spot. It’s in the heart of downtown Tempe with all the cool kids to look at and espressos to dump down your gullet.
What I love about Kiwanis Park is how huge it is. It’s like three parks in one! It’s full of active people doing active stuff. It even has a lake with ducks and fish in it!*
*You can pretty spend an entire afternoon at Kiwanis Park. With sports amenities like a baseball diamond, basketball courts, batting range, soccer fields, softball fields, swimming, tennis courts, urban fishing, and volleyball courts, you’ll never run out of things to do. Not to mention, the picnic tables and open grass areas make a great place to enjoy lunch before heading into the M3F music festival.
Worth Takeaway
Worth Takeaway
You gotta try the crispy chicken sandwich and banana pudding at Worth Takeaway! It’s a mom-and-pop sandwich shop in downtown Mesa equipped with its own merchandise. You can see me wearing their “kindness club” tee.
Chino Bandido is one of the BEST restaurants in the valley! It’s a perfect blend of Asian and Mexican food. Don’t forget a snickerdoodle for dessert!*
*The restaurant’s blend of traditional flavors from Mexican and Asian cuisines — with menu items like jerk fried rice, burritos, and combination rice bowls — is beloved for being deeply satisfying. Sounds like the ultimate festival hangover cure.
Desert Vista Trailhead
City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department
My favorite hike in the valley is the Dixie Mountain Loop from the Desert Vista Trailhead. It’s about a five-mile loop and if you go mid-week you usually have the trail to yourself. If you’re lucky, you might see the owl in its nest.
Dobbins Lookout
City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department
One of the best places in Phoenix to catch a sunset is Dobbins Lookout on top of South Mountain. The drive up and down is a little sketchy, but the views are totally worth it!
Before there was “Big Energy” or “Muwop,” Atlanta rapper Latto introduced herself to rap fans with her breakthrough single “B*tch From Da Souf,” which appeared on her 2019 EP Hit The Latto. This song, as well as its remix featuring Saweetie and Trina, helped take Latto from being a teen reality TV star to being signed to RCA Records, where she released her well-received debut album, Queen Of Da Souf.
Now, with her second album in the works and the Monster Outbreak Energy Tour (which she’s headlining) kicking off next month, Latto stops by Uproxx Studios in LA to break down how “B*tch From Da Souf” changed her life on How I Blew Up. Tracking her career from her early interest in reading and language arts to her father’s taking command of her career to put her on the right track to “B*tch From Da Souf” becoming an unexpected success after a title change.
A last-minute video shoot not only changed the song’s trajectory but also Latto’s, accumulating more streams on YouTube than any of Latto’s previous records. From there, it didn’t take long for Latto to become one of the hottest rising stars in hip-hop. She explains how becoming an XXL Freshman in 2020 proved to be both exciting and frustrating, then talks about her plans for the future as presaged by the success of “Big Energy,” her latest big hit, which is doing even better than “B*tch From Da Souf.”
The most notable Rihanna news as of late is that she and ASAP Rocky are now expecting their first child together. For those whose primary interest in Rihanna lies in her musical output, a natural reaction to the pregnancy news is to wonder what sort of impact it will have on her forthcoming album. Well, now Rihanna has addressed that, noting that new music is still on the way.
In a lighthearted and friendly interview with ET’s Rachel Smith from over the weekend, Smith asked Rihanna about her “other baby” (the upcoming album) and wondered if pregnancy and motherhood will inspire new music. Rihanna responded, “Oh gosh. You can’t ever… You know, this is why my fans love you, you know, because you ask all the good questions. Well… yes, you’re still going to get music from me.” Smith suggested a lullaby could be on the way and Rihanna replied, “Oh my goodness, not a lullaby. My fans would kill me if they waited this long for a lullaby.”
She also spoke about how her pregnancy has been so far, saying, “It’s all an exciting journey so far. I’m just taking it as it comes every week. There’s always something new and I’m just taking it and I’m enjoying it.” Rocky also told ET, “I’m just excited for what I don’t know yet. Everything is new to me. So, I’m excited.”
Kendrick Lamar had a huge weekend at the Super Bowl, crushing it an all-timer halftime show performance with Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and Eminem. And while Kendrick didn’t debut the mythical new single on Sunday that we’ve all been waiting for, he did just announce a new podcast today about To Pimp A Butterfly, debuting tomorrow on Spotify.
In the second season of Spotify’s The Big Hit Show, Kendrick will be the focus of the five-part series that takes a look at the creation of the groundbreaking collision of hip-hop and jazz. “Going back into the album it was me explaining my experiences and what emotions it brought up from that experience,” he said in a trailer for the new show. “And tell them like, ‘Yo, it’s something bigger than Compton and where we from.’”
From Compton to the big stage Join Kendrick Lamar, @rapsody, @george_clinton, and many more as they reflect on his classic studio album “To Pimp a Butterfly.”
The show is hosted by music journalist Alex Pappademas and the first season was all about the Twilight saga. If that sounds a bit off the hip-hop spectrum, it’s because the podcast is an all-encompassing look at pop culture that dubs itself “an epic journey that spans genres, mediums, and generations to explore what happens when a wildly successful piece of pop culture gets so big that it changes the world. This show is about how big hits get dreamed up, how they get made, and what happens when we make them our own.”
It’s rare to have Lamar actually be a part of interviews and media about himself. Even arguably the definitive look at Lamar, journalist Marcus J. Moore’s excellent book, The Butterfly Effect, was an unofficial biography that didn’t feature an interview with the star. The Big Hit Show on TPAB will have Lamar front and center, as well as guests like George Clinton, Rapsody, and more.
The show debuts on Wednesday, 02/16 for free on Spotify, and you can stream it here.
Although it has been decades since Dr. Dre himself was at the center of any hip-hop controversies, there was some speculation and debate ahead of his recent Super Bowl halftime show performance that the NFL worried parts of the show could become culture war flashpoints. While the moments in question went off without a hitch, some folks did find plenty to complain about — even after the NFL offered notes on how to tone down potentially troublesome moments during the performance.
Dr. Dre revealed what “minor changes” the NFL made to the set during an interview with TMZ. While he did acknowledge the rumor that the NFL had barred his co-star Eminem from kneeling during his set, Dre said the real changes came during Kendrick Lamar’s portion of the performance. “Em taking the knee, that was Em doing that on his own, and there was no problem with that,” he said. However, regarding Kendrick’s song, “M.A.A.D. City,” the opening line “if Pirus and Crips could all get along” didn’t fly.
“They had a problem with that, so we had to take that out,” he said. “No big deal, we get it. But, all in all, everybody came in, we were professional, everybody was on time. Everybody felt the magnitude of what this thing was, and what we were going to be able to accomplish. It was a fantastic experience.” You can watch Dre’s interview below.
It’s one of the best times of the year — time for the Hollywood Bowl to announce their schedule for 2022. As one of the premier venues in Los Angeles, the Hollywood Bowl dropping their lineup isn’t just another venue announcing live shows, it’s a chance for a lot of local music aficionados to truly plan out their live music input for 2022. Luckily, the Bowl has delivered yet another stellar lineup for 2022, with a packed schedule that includes stars like Diana Ross, TLC — opening for Boyz II Men, no less — and Sheryl Crow herself.
Because the Bowl is such a classic venue for locals, their schedule of in-house shows is always a highly anticipated event. Kicking off this June, the Bowl’s lineup will include stars like Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina, Ricky Martin, John Fogerty, Polo And Pan, Trombone Shorty, Flying Lotus and Kaiyote performing with the LA Philharmonic orchestra, The Gipsy Kings, Grace Jones and Chvrches, Herbie Hancock, and more.
Check out the venue’s entire lineup right here, and stay tuned for all the other bookings that aren’t necessarily in-house shows, this venue is well known for making both in-house and external shows entirely worth your while. If you’ve been craving live music, this outdoor venue is a great place to make a return.
Join Kendrick Lamar, 
