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2023 NFL Draft Delivered Wildest First Round In Years

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The 2023 NFL Draft got underway on Thursday night at Union Station in Kansas City. Starting proceedings at 8pm EDT, 31 players would be announced in the opening round. Fans in Kansas City could then stick around for a Fall Out Boy concert.

Things were already crazy before the draft began. The Chicago Bears had traded the first overall pick to the Carolina Panthers. That only left the question of which quarterback prospect the Panthers would take. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens announced on draft day that they had signed quarterback Lamar Jackson to a 5-year extension. That ruled out a potential trade involving him. But nothing could have prepared us for just how wild the first round would end up being.

Multiple Trades And Shock Picks Dominate NFL Draft

With the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers selected…Bryce Young. The mock draft consensus proved right as the Panthers took the Alabama star to be their anchor at QB. Minutes later, the Houston Texans surprised no one when they took Ohio State quarterback second overall. And that was pretty much the end of normalcy in the draft. The Texans immediately traded up to #3 so they could edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. The Colts then took Florida QB Anthony Richardson, in what had been called a “consensus decision” pre-draft. The Seahawks went cornerback at five before we got another trade at six. The Cardinals, who had traded down to #12 from #3, traded back up to #6 in a deal with the Lions. They used the pick to take Ohio State O-Lineman Paris Johnson Jr.

We’re still not done as the first round saw not one, but two running backs drafted in the top half of the first round. It’s the first time since 2017 that two running backs have gone in the first sixteen picks. Those players were Bijan Robinson (#8 to the Falcons) and, more shockingly, Jahmyr Gibbs (#12 to the Lions). Gibbs was projected as a late first/early second-round pick. The playoff picks (#20 and beyond) opened with four straight wide receivers. However, the biggest shock of the draft was that after 31 picks, only three QBs had been taken. That leaves Kentucky’s Will Levis as the top player on the board going into day two. Be sure to check back with HotNewHipHop for all the biggest draft stories and reactions.

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Warriors Take Series Lead Versus Kings

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Ten days ago, the Sacramento Kings had the Golden State Warriors on the ropes. The Kings led 2-0 in their first-round playoff series and the stacked Warriors looked lost. And then Draymond Green was suspended. It was arguably a deserved suspension, given the brutal stomp he gave Domantas Sabonis. However, it changed something in the Warriors. The team admitted as much, but the results soon became clear on the court as well.

The Warriors crushed the Kings 114-97 in their Green-less Game 3. Then they managed to hold onto a late lead to take Game 4 126-125. All of a sudden, the series was tied at 2 as things headed back to Sacramento. The Kings had lost just 18 games at home while the Warriors had won just 11 games on the road during the regular season. It was the perfect opportunity for the Kings to right the ship.

Warriors Dominate Game 5 To Set Up Potential Home Clinch

Game 5 was yet another high-scoring affair. The two California teams combined for 116 points by the half. However, the Warriors never let go of the reins and took a seven-point win. Steph Curry led all scorers with 31 points, with Splash Brother Klay Thompson also putting up 25. That said, the pair were cold from three, going a combined 7-21 from beyond the arc. The Warriors also got big performances from Andrew Wiggins (20 points) and Draymond Green (21 points).

The Kings did what they could, but ultimately couldn’t outshoot the Warriors. De’Aaron Fox led Sacramento with 24 points, followed by Sabonis and Malik Monk with 21 apiece. However, outside of Monk, the Kings’ bench contributed just 18 points. Now having lost three in a row, the Kings need to find a solution, and fast. The Warriors have gotten better and better with each playoff game, and now resemble the team we have always expected from them. The win sends the series back to the Chase Center, which is bad news for the Kings. The Warriors lost just eight games at home during the regular season. The Chase Center is well and truly their fortress. Do you think the Warriors win at home? Or will the Kings force Game 7 back in Sacramento?

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Durant And Booker Eliminate Short-handed Clippers

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The first-round NBA playoff series between the Phoenix Suns and LA Clippers started out as an even series. The Clippers shocked the Suns in Game 1 before Phoenix righted the ship and evened the series in Game 2. Then things went off the rails for Los Angeles.

Already without Paul George, the Clippers saw Kawhi Leonard sidelined after Game 2. That put the weight of the series on the shoulders of Russell Westbrook and Normal Powell. The series moved to LA, where the Suns took Games 3 and 4 behind their power pairing of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. As Game 5 took the series back to Phoenix, the Clippers faced elimination and needed a miracle.

Clippers Keep It Close But Crash Out Of The Playoffs

With Leonard still out, the Clippers needed career games from Westbrook and Powell. However, the two players were simply unable to run with the Suns. They combined for 41 points (27 for Powell, 14 for Westbrook), and 10 rebounds. However, they also missed 10 consecutive shots during one ice-cold shooting run. The Clippers bench provided some help, with Nicholas Batum and Mason Plumlee combining for 39 points. Ivica Zubac also finished with a double-double, with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Clippers even led at the half, having put up 70 first-half points. 40 of those came in the second quarter alone. But it was simply not enough to slow down the Phoenix pain train.

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant became the first duo since 2003 Kobe and Shaq to each score 25 in their first five playoff games. They also became just the second duo to score 25 in every game of a best-of-seven since 1968 Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Booker led all scorers with a 47-point double-double. Meanwhile, Durant added another 31 points of his own. Their biggest moment was a 38-point third quarter to help erase a 9-point halftime deficit. The Suns scored 50 total points in the quarter. The 136-130 final score was largely a result of the Suns’ bench struggling to put up meaningful points. However, it didn’t matter all that much as Phoenix sealed the win. They will now face #1 seed Denver in the Conference Semifinals. Denver completed their own 4-1 dismantling of the Timberwolves on Tuesday night.

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Simone Biles Claps Back At Wedding Day Hairstyle Haters

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It was undoubtedly a weekend full of love, as several noteworthy celebrities tied the knot. Not only did Sofia Richie and her beau Elliott Grainge exchange vows, but Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and NFL player Jonathan Owens were also married in Houston. The latter ceremony took place on Saturday (April 22) and was a quaint courthouse affair with close family and friends. The 26-year-old made sure to share plenty of content with her fans on social media following the wedding, though some internet trolls had unkind comments to make about her hairstyle of choice for the big day.

Biles certainly kept it simple, wearing her shiny black inches back into a high ponytail with beautiful waves hanging by her shoulders. Around her face, some baby hairs and edges sit, unlaid, which is markedly a serious problem for some. “I’m happy for Simone Biles Owens, but mfs acting like her edges didn’t look bad is annoying,” one person wrote on Twitter. “It’s not hating to point out something factual???” they added. Thankfully, the love for the Ohio native came out on top of the hate, with many others speaking out in defence of her simple style.

Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens Tie the Knot

“Simone Biles is one of THEE top gymnasts we’ve ever seen, has overcome situations of abuse and other obstacles in her childhood, has defined her own success and found love and is now happily married,” one of them pointed out. “And y’all worried about her hair..?!” The newlywed caught sight of this sweet message and took time out of her day to respond. “I think they also forget I live in HOUSTON, TEXAS and I sweat those out!!” Biles pointed out.

“Soon as we stepped outside for pics,” she added. “But they can keep complaining, idc idc idc,” the athlete’s message ended, making it clear that she’s completely unbothered by the discourse surrounding her hair, or anything else to do with her and Owens’ special moment. What are your thoughts on Simone Biles’ wedding day look? Leave a comment below to let us know, and check back in later for more pop culture news updates.

Gymnast Claps Back at Hairstyle Haters

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Harry Belafonte Dead At 96, Music Sensation & Actor Mourned By Many

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We’re certainly sad to report the death of Harry Belafonte today, though proud to say that the multi-talent lived for 96 years, during which he accomplished insurmountable feats. TMZ shared the news on Tuesday (April 25). Ken Sunshine revealed to the outlet that the singer-turned-actor passed away in his Manhattan home today after battling congestive heart failure. Belafonte is survived by his wife, Pamela, and four children – one of which is Sistas actress, Shari Belafonte.

Additionally, the fallen icon has two stepchildren and several grandkids mourning their loss. Belafonte rose to fame during the 1950s, helping to popularize the genre of calypso music in America at the time. He’s best known for “Day-O,” or “Banana Boat Song,” which appears in the film Beetlejuice and has even been sampled by Lil Wayne. He was born to Jamaican parents in New York in March 1927, and the music they introduced him to at a young age obviously influenced his own releases. Calypso, his breakthrough album, was the first to ever sell more than one million copies in a year.

RIP Harry Belafonte

(Photo by Henry Herrmann/ullstein bild via Getty Images)

Apart from setting trends and breaking records sonically, Belafonte also had a noteworthy career as an actor. His credits include Island in the Sun, Carmen Jones, and Odds Against Tomorrow. One of the entertainer’s most frequent collaborators was Sidney Poitier. The two came together in the ’70s for both Uptown Saturday Night and Buck and the Preacher. Of course, his resume doesn’t stop there. Harry was a noted civil rights activist and spent plenty of time marching with Martin Luther King Jr. throughout the ’60s.

His last public event was in December 2022, when he was honoured with the National Order of the Legion of Honour from the French government – not a bad way to go out. The recording artist touched the hearts of many with his work and the way he lived his life, causing an outpouring of heartfelt tributes to surface on social media today. Scroll on to see some of the internet’s favourite memories of Harry Belafonte, and share any of yours in the comments. RIP.

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The Grizzlies Poked The Lakers Bear And Lost Bad

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Game 2 completely changed the Grizzlies-Lakers NBA playoff series. The Grizzlies’ win was highlighted by Dillion Brooks sounding off about LeBron. As part of his post-game comments, Brooks said he “pokes bears” and didn’t respect LeBron because he hadn’t “dropped 40” on the team.

LeBron played it cool, seemingly brushing off Brooks’ comments. However, that set up a pivotal game three for control of the series. What’s more, Ja Morant would be back for the Grizzlies after missing the second game of the series. Everything was set for a no-holds-barred match in LA. That game was the first sell-out playoff game for the Lakers in a decade.

Morant Shines But Grizzlies Falter

To begin with, the Brooks-LeBron beef was short-lived. Brooks was ejected less than 30 seconds into the third quarter for a flagrant 2 on LeBron. Similar to James Harden’s ejection earlier in the week, it was all due to Brooks hitting LeBron in the groin. Brooks played just 19 minutes, putting up 7 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. That left the Grizzlies short-handed in the backcourt, a crucial issue as they tried to bounce back from a rough first half. However, they were able to rely on Morant. Returning from injury, Morant put up 45 points, shooting 50% from the field and 60% from three. He also added 13 assists in a great outing for the team leader. However, it just wasn’t enough. Anthony Davis scored 31 and LeBron put 25 as the Lakers cruised to a 111-101 win. The scoreline made the game seem closer than it was.

The Grizzlies scored just nine points in the first quarter and trailed by 16 at the half. While the second half was much better for them, they were never able to truly threaten the Lakers. Rui Hachimura had 16 off the bench, outscoring the entirety of the Grizzlies’ bench (12). However, after the game, LeBron dismissed any notion of beef between him and Brooks. “I didn’t make a statement,” James said. “I’ve been doing this too long. I’m not making any statements. We had the opportunity to come home and play well on our home floor, and we did that. No statement was made. We just wanted to play well, and we got a win. I don’t need to make statements.”

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Latto Reacts To Troll Criticizing Her “Implants”: “Just A BBL Mid-Clap”

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No matter how hard haters try to stop Latto’s shine with their nasty commentary and shady subtweets, she simply won’t let them. The 24-year-old has been near-constantly slammed by critics in recent months, whether they called her out for refusing to work with them despite being a self-proclaimed “girl’s girl,” or simply slammed her for wearing the same underwear in thirst traps taken months apart from each other. Most recently, the “Wheelie” hitmaker has internet trolls throwing shade at her body – particularly her behind, which she previously had cosmetically enhanced.

In response to a photo dump posted on Twitter by Latto on Saturday (April 22), one person commented specifically on an image that finds her bodacious booty in the middle of a twerking session. “First pic 🤣🤣🤣,” they wrote. “The implants are so visible.” Despite what the critic had to say, the Atlanta-based artist made it abundantly clear that she paid for a different procedure to give her the figure of her dreams. “Just a BBL mid-clap,” she responded last night, earning nearly 4K likes from followers.

Twitter Trolls Come for Latto

Of course, the distasteful comments about her body didn’t stop there. “Then why it still lumpy when you standing sis? Is that mid-clap too or?” one person asked while providing a photo of Latto on stage in assless pants, her famous bottom fully on display. Others questioned why the reality starlet even gives attention to those bringing negativity into her life. “No, but sis he got five likes on that, and no one know him,” someone pointed out. “Why are you paying ANY MIND to him? 😭✋🏽.”

Aside from clapping back at those haters yesterday, the 777 starlet also found herself in hot water with another rap diva this weekend. After sharing her “Put It On Da Floor” single on Friday (April 21), Coi Leray called Latto out for seemingly body-shaming her, though she’s since admitted to potentially overreacting about the situation. Read more about the two lyricist’s recent internet spat here, and check back later for more hip-hop news updates from all your favourite artists..

777 Starlet Hits Back

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Twitter Got Rowdy As The Sixers Swept The Nets

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Sixers-Nets would have been such a hype playoff matchup just a few months ago. But then the Nets traded Kyrie and Kevin Durant, leaving them with a serviceable team and lots of draft capital. They finished as the six-seed, while the Sixers finished third behind the Bucks and Celtics.

Instead, we got an incredibly one-sided matchup between a team with the MVP frontrunner and the Brooklyn Nets. Unlike the Western Conference’s Grizzlies-Lakers series, this wasn’t a team hampered by injury. The Sixers won the first two games by double digits. While game three was closer, as Joel Embiid left with an injury, the Sixers still took a five-point win. However, how would the team fare without Embiid on the court? Could the Nets find some way, any way, back into the series?

Sixers Don’t Need Embiid As Nets Are Swept

Tobias Harris was the star of the Sixers in Game 4, dropping 25 points and 12 rebounds in an 8-point win for Philadelphia. Also contributing in a big way was De’Anthony Melton, who had 15 points off the bench. That proved crucial as Melton alone outscored the entire Nets bench combined and two Nets starters. Paul Reed also popped off for a double-double, putting up 10 points and 15 rebounds. James Harden completed a trio of Sixers double-doubles with 17 points and 11 assists. It wasn’t the prettiest or flashiest performance, but it got the job. More importantly, it was a top-to-bottom team effort without Embiid leading the way.

In the end, it was the bench points that mattered most. Spencer Dinwiddie and Nic Claxton combined for 39 points, with Claxton also adding 12 rebounds. However, the Nets got just 11 points out of power forwards Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O’Neale. Furthermore, the Nets’ four-man bench put up just 13 points in total. It was a sad and disappointing end to a mediocre season for the Nets. However, they hold two late-first-round picks in June’s draft, giving them plenty of versatility. As for the Sixers, they will face the winner of the Celtics-Hawks series. The Celtics currently lead that series 2-1, having dropped Game 3 to Atlanta on Friday.

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NFL Announces Bizarre Lineup For Draft Concert

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The NFL is a brand that has always strived to appeal to younger audiences. Whether that’s through promotions, the Super Bowl halftime show, or just generally trying to be the most exciting sport America has to offer. According to a poll of 1000 Gen Zers in 2022, 53% of them listed the NFL as their favorite sports league.

By extension, the NFL wants young people to tune into the NFL Draft. With the next crop of young players entering the league, the NFL wants people invested. As part of this, the NFL Draft has become a three-day spectacle that takes over an entire city. This includes the NFL Draft Concert series, a trio of musical performances that close out each day of the draft. In the past, performers have included MGK and Marshmello. But we have some questions about the 2023 lineup.

Fall Out Boy, Mötley Crüe, and Thundercat Headline NFL Draft Concert 2023

In an announcement earlier this week, the NFL revealed that the NFL Draft Concert 2023 would feature Fall Out Boy, Mötley Crüe, and Thundercat. Fall Out Boy would follow Round 1 on April 27, Mötley Crüe would come on after Round 3 on April 28, and Thundercat would close out proceedings on April 29. The concert is free on a first-come, first-served basis in Kansas City. 2022 featured a lineup of Weezer, Ice Cube, and Marshmello. Starting to think people might not want to play the NFL Draft…

Fall Out Boy and Thundercat are decent if slightly unusual choices. Thundercat is a nice way to close out the draft while Fall Out Boy is currently promoting their new album. But Mötley Crüe? The 80s metal band who is currently feuding with one of their band members? The band that hasn’t released a new album in 15 years? It’s a weird move from an organization that has the money and power to get any number of big-name stars. Furthermore, the NFL literally just had Rihanna magically vibe all over the Super Bowl. Was Mötley Crüe seriously the best they could do? Regardless, all three acts will be in attendance when the NFL Draft kicks off next week.

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