It’s rare that an artist spans culture and brings the industry, including outside of the industry, in appreciation of talent. Kendrick Lamar has achieved that with the Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers Tour, despite having no special guest appearances on stage; King Kendrick and Baby Keem have had the stars out at shows across […]
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MSNBC correspondent Ari Melber is a huge fan of hip-hop who loves quoting rappers like Nicki Minaj and using hip-hop songs to make poignant political commentary. In his latest segment, though, he takes it a step farther, pulling quotes from Jay-Z’s triumphant “God Did” verse to break down the US government’s ongoing — and some would say failed — War On Drugs, which has mostly just led to increased incarceration rates for Black Americans, billions of tax dollars dumped into increasingly militarized police forces, and little measurable reduction in drug use in the US.
Jay-Z breaks down the drug war and his life in an epic poem/verse — and here’s our breakdown of that from tonight’s show:https://t.co/v5vjai2yWG
— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) August 31, 2022
Melber references numerous lines from the verse, including one in which Jay calls US laws “draconian,” and another that mentions a 1996 60 Minutes interview between Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan and Mike Wallace. Melber breaks down these lines and others as he draws parallels to the drug war and points out how the prohibition of alcohol was reversed, allowing numerous former criminals to become legitimate businessmen with huge returns on their investments.
This leads to a note that while so-called “street drugs” continue to be criminalized and associated with minorities, the biggest drug dealers are, in fact, the pharmaceutical companies that legally manufacture ultra-addictive drugs like Oxycontin and Fentanyl despite being caught unethically using their power and reach to pressure doctors to overprescribe them.
One of the four billionaires that Jay claims responsibility for mentoring in the song, LeBron James, agreed that more people should check it out, sharing the report on Twitter. “Listen!” he implored his followers. “Then listen again to make sure you got the point. HOV DID!!!! And so did the reporter! 
TALK.” His post prompted two replies, one from Melber, who quoted Jay’s line from “God Did” mentioning LeBron, and Jay-Z himself, who made a rare Twitter appearance to cosign James’ tweet with another quote from the verse.
Listen! Then listen again to make sure you got the point. HOV DID!!!! And so did the reporter!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 31, 2022
Bron’s a Roc boy, so four, technically
https://t.co/iqGUQ8UR4G
— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) August 31, 2022
My only goal is to make the real “ones” feel seen , forgive me that’s my passion talking ….. haa . https://t.co/yRzFlyie3f
— Mr. Carter (@sc) August 31, 2022
The report is fascinating and enlightening through and through, and you should really check it out, which you can do up top.
It has been an eventful summer for LeBron James as he gets ready for his 20th season in the NBA. After some vacation time, James has been busy on the pro-am circuit, popping up at the Drew League and The CrawsOver in L.A. and Seattle, while also showing up at various gyms to work with trainers throughout the summer.
He’s also had plenty to deal with regarding his team and their future, as he signed a two-year extension earlier this month and has been pushing behind the scenes for the Lakers front office to make more moves to turn the roster into a real contender. While the Lakers continue trying to appease those desires, most recently trading for Patrick Beverley and there still being the expectation Russell Westbrook is moved, James made a trip up to Vancouver with his wife, Savannah, for a little R&R.
On that trip, the James popped in to Kendrick Lamar’s stop on the Big Steppers Tour and other fans took some videos of LeBron and Savannah having the time of their lives dancing and singing along.
@KingJames rocking out at @kendricklamar show in #Vancouver Great Show! Two Kings brought their A-Game tonight!
#LeBron #kendrick pic.twitter.com/f3PyF9WkZ0
— Mike Man
(@chubbyvegan18) August 29, 2022
.@KingJames at The Big Steppers Tour tonight in Vancouver, BC
— KENDRICK LAMAR BIBLE (@dakendrickbible) August 29, 2022
Kendrick appreciated the love from the James family and gave the couple a shoutout during the performance, ensuring the entire crowd knew the King was in the building.
This moment right here
. When Kendrick Lamar gave a shoutout to Lebron and Savannah.
— Sadé Awele (@sade_awele) August 29, 2022
During a break, the crowd broke into full on MVP chants for LeBron.
Lebron getting MVP chants at the Kendrick Lamar show in Vancouver pic.twitter.com/MwHTCTmwK7
— Kids Take Over (@kidstakeover_) August 29, 2022
LeBron’s love of music is well known and he had such a good time at the show that he had to tweet some special appreciation to the city of Vancouver for all the love in his first visit to British Columbia and to Kendrick for putting on a great show.
Vancouver!! Thank you for the hospitality over the weekend. 1st time in your beautiful, wonderful city! @kendricklamar you’re 1 of a kind my brother! SPECIAL show by a SPECIAL person! Appreciate the love!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 29, 2022
DJ Khaled‘s new album, God Did, has hip-hop heads talking. One of the highlights of the album is its title track, on which Jay-Z raps for four straight minutes.
On a particular line, Jay recalls acquiring billionaire status, and how some of his collaborators quickly received the coveted title after.
“Nobody touched a billi until Hov did,” Jay raps. “How many billionaires can come from Hov crib? I count three / Me, Ye, and Rih / ‘Bron’s a Roc boy, so four technically.”
Jay was crowned hip-hop’s first billionaire in 2019, largely due to his extensive catalog, as well as his investments into companies like D’usse. Kanye West officially became a billionaire about a year later, largely in part to his Yeezy fashion collection. The following year, Rihanna became a billionaire, thanks to her Fenty Beauty line, as well as her Savage X Fenty lingerie and underwear collection. Lebron James acquired billionaire status this past June, thanks to his nearly two-decade spanning basketball career, as well as partnerships with brands like AT&T and Nike.
It seems that this billionaire status was manifested 17 years ago, when Jay, West, and James covered the August 2005 issue of XXL. Next to them was Foxy Brown, as Rihanna had only just stepped onto the scene with her debut single, “Pon De Replay,” that summer.
Music journalist Elliott Wilson shared an image of the cover on Instagram today.
Shortly after, he shared an image of a fan-made cover with Rihanna’s face photoshopped over Brown’s.
Check out “God Did” above.
God Did is out now via We The Best and Epic Records. Stream it here.
The Los Angeles Lakers are signing their star forward LeBron James to a two-year extension worth $97.1 million. Multiple reports said the deal includes a player option for the 2024-25 season.
With $532 million in guaranteed career earnings, this epic new contract makes the 37-year-old the highest paid player in terms of salary in the league’s history, surpassing Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets.
READ MORE: SOURCE SPORTS: Bronny James Poster Dunk Sends The Internet and LeBron James Into Frenzy
James was going to enter the final year of his current deal this upcoming season. Rich Paul, CEO of Klutch Sports reportedly said King James had a final year deal worth $44.5M.
LeBron joined the Lakers as a free agent in 2018 and won the NBA Championship with the team in 2020.
Continue the conversation on social media.
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LeBron James will be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers for the foreseeable future. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, James and the Lakers have agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million extension.
The new deal includes a 15 percent trade kicker, which makes King James the highest earning player in NBA history with $532 million in guaranteed money.
The new contract contains a player option for the 2024-25 season. The deal can increase to $111 million if the salary cap increases in 2023-24.
The post SOURCE SPORTS: LeBron James Agrees to New Deal with Lakers to Become Highest Earning Player in NBA History appeared first on The Source.
Bronny James is, without a doubt, one of the most popular Preps hoop stars in the world. Of course, a lot of that comes from the spotlight of his father LeBron James. But don’t get it messed up, the kid can hoop!
Playing in the Club Basketball Euro Tour overseas, a Bronny highlight made a splash online as during a fast break, the young star destroys a defender with an in-and-out dribble leading to a massive slam.
BRONNY JAMES THROWS IT DOWN
pic.twitter.com/ikJ8ksPVSx
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 15, 2022
“OH MY GOODNESS BRONNY!!!!!,” King James sounded off.
OH MY GOODNESS BRONNY!!!!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 15, 2022
But Bron wasn’t the only one who showed love to the rising star.
Bronny fait le show à Nanterre
— Basket-Infos (@Basket_Infos) August 15, 2022
That was SERIOUS Bronny! https://t.co/hU0AGncwFx
—
Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) August 15, 2022
But of course, there will be a hater. And would it be anybody but Skip Bayless?
But Twitter let Bayless have it.
The post SOURCE SPORTS: Bronny James Poster Dunk Sends The Internet and LeBron James Into Frenzy appeared first on The Source.
Christmas Day is a marquee day for the NBA. Fans are able to plan their schedules now as Shams Charania has announced the rumored lineup of games for Dec. 25. The NBA’s slate of games will include the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, and more.
Opening the day will be a rematch of the second round of the 2022 East playoffs, bringing Giannis Antentokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks to Boston to take on Jayson Tatum and the Celtics.
Madison Square Garden will see Christmas action as Jalen Brunson and the new look New Your Knicks will host Joel Embiid, James Harden, and the Philadephia 76ers. The Phoenix Suns will then be on the road taking on two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets.
LeBron James and the Lakers will head to Dallas to take on Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. And to close the day, The Golden State Warriors will host their new rivals, the Memphis Grizzlies.
Which game has your attention?
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