Carmelo Anthony & LeBron James Reunite As Los Angeles Lakers Teammates

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And just like that, the Los Angeles Lakers are even more stacked. Following the blockbuster trade that landed Russell Westbrook in Los Angeles and the surprising return of former Championship-winning Lakers Dwight Howard and Trevor Ariza, it has now been revealed that Carmelo Anthony will officially don a Los Angeles Lakers jersey when the 2021-2022 NBA season commences.

The exciting news comes straight from ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski, who reported, “Free agent F Carmelo Anthony has agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, his manager Bay Frazier tells ESPN.”

Carmelo’s signing with the Lakers means that he will finally play alongside LeBron James during the regular season, almost two full decades after both of the beloved basketball players were drafted in 2003. By joining the Lakers, Carmelo also gives the fan-favorite franchise even better odds at another championship run this year, as the current roster now features LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Marc Gasol, Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, Kent Bazemore, and Wayne Ellington.

Carmelo has also recognized this game-changing news with a short, yet thrilling clip that he shared on social media. In the five-second vido, viewers can see the word “MELO,” stylized as “ME7O,” against a black background. Then, randomly at the :02-second mark, the “7” changes to the Lakers “L.” 

With the Los Angeles Lakers’ impressive off-season moves, what team do you now think will be bringing home the Larry O’Brien trophy next summer?

Lil Nas X Explains How His BET Awards Performance Was ‘Like Jumping In A Lake Of Sharks And Piranhas’

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Lil Nas X’s performance at the BET Awards was one of the year’s most notable music moments, mainly because of his on-stage kiss with one of his male dancers. In a new interview with Out, he spoke about the moment, admitting that he was hesitant about doing it at first.

He said:

“Going to this place with all these overly masculine rappers and you’re finna be in there throwing a little ass every now and then, touching on dudes and hugging them and kissing them… at some points I was like, ‘Should I even do this? I don’t feel like they’re going to love me like that.’ […]

Mentally, it’s really draining and straining sometimes; The pressure of living your entire life knowing the identity of what a rapper is supposed to be, what rappers [are supposed to] do, and going out there in front of all these people, it’s terrifying. [The BET performance] was like jumping in a lake full of sharks and piranhas — and I’ve had to do that so many times within these last three years. Even coming out, that was terrifying. When I put on the costume of Nicki [Minaj, for Halloween]: terrifying.”

He also spoke about his experience with homosexuality as a kid, saying, “Growing up in the Atlanta area, I [saw] a lot of microaggressions towards homosexuality. Little things like going into an IHOP and hearing one of your family members say, ‘Look at those f****ts’ to two people eating, or even just a small [statement like], ‘Boys don’t cry.’ Little sh*t like living in the hood, not being super into sports, and then having to go outside and pretend that I was.”

Read the full feature here.

Ric Flair Shares Statement About WWE Release

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Ric Flair has been one of the WWE’s biggest icons and an inspiration to kids for decades, as a 16-time champ, 2 time Hall of Famer, and outspoken wrestler/wrestling host. Even as Flair ventures deeper into his 70s, his involvement with the WWE family has remained consistent. However, yesterday, Flair became yet another member to leave the WWE organization and he followed up the news with a statement on Twitter, clarifying his decision.

In the statement, he maintains that he has no hard feelings towards the organization, but instead has “a different vision” for his future.

“I want to make it really clear with everyone that I’m not upset with WWE at all,” read a beginning section of Flair’s statement. His release comes at his own request while many of his WWE coworkers undergo the same process in hopes of securing jobs at All Elite Wrestling, which has become increasingly popular among wrestling fans.

“[WWE] solely are responsible for putting me in the position of life that I’m in right now, Where I’m seen in the brightest light ever,” Flair continued, looking back at the legacy the WWE afforded him. 

ric flair wwe

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Flair then wrapped up with a final thank you to the organization: “We have a very different vision for my future. I wish them nothing but continued success! Thank you for everything! Nothing but respect!”

It remains unclear what path Ric Flair will take post-WWE, but fans will certainly miss him. His daughter Charlotte remains a powerhouse wrestler and employee of the WWE. 

Fans replied to the tweet with well wishes. “Gonna miss seeing ya around, Ric!” and “The GOAT who been around since the 70s time to become ALL ELITE” responded fans. 

Ric will be missed as part of the WWE family.

Check out the tweet and some reactions below.

2 Chainz Announces New Album Title: “Dope Don’t Sell Itself”

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As more and more music festivals continue to drop DaBaby from their line-ups, there is still plenty of noncontroversial news coming out of the festival circuit as well. From news about Miley Cyrus fans getting trapped in the rage during Playboi Carti’s Lollapalooza set to Ari Lennox bringing out J. Cole for a surprise appearance at the 2021 BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival, there have already been a lot of wild festival moments this summer.

Now, it appears that 2 Chainz recently dropped a major bombshell while performing at the HARD Summer Music Festival in San Bernardino, California. Future, Lil Durk, Don Toliver, Kaytranada, and A-Trak also made appearances at the festival, but 2 Chainz made his HARD Festival performance an unforgettable one by announcing the title for his forthcoming seventh studio album.

After closing his set with a spirited performance of “Birthday Song,” the Atlanta veteran confirmed that he had a new album on the way, and then he proceeded to reveal the title for his follow-up to 2020’s So Help Me God!

While he didn’t let HARD Summer Music Festival attendees know when they can expect it, he did announce that the album will be titled Dop Don’t Sell Itself. With recent claims that he would only be making one more trap album, this captivating new title sounds fitting for what could possibly be 2 Chainz’ trap magnum opus.

Are you looking forward to learning more about Dope Don’t Sell Itself?

Joey Purp Announces New Project With “Outside”

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If you’ve been waiting on a new album from Joey Purp, you’re just in luck. The rapper just announced his forthcoming project, UpLate! with the release of its lead single, “Outside.” The upbeat banger serves as Purp’s first solo single in nearly three years since the release of QUARTERTHING in 2018.

Purp’s new album, UpLate! is set to be released on September 24th and includes his production debut. Additionally, the entire project will be entirely featureless.

“We really just wanted to expand. Expand on everything we’ve done. Expand on our sound. Expand Chicago’s sound and what that means to the world. We wanted to give a glimpse at our history and our future at the same time you know,” Purp explained of the project in a statement. “There’s a saying, you don’t know where you’re going unless you know where you came from. In hip-hop, we say it ain’t where you from it’s where you at. So this is where we’re from and this is where we’re at and this is where we’re going. And this is what it sounds like.”

Quotable Lyrics
Yeah, I be overseas I can’t even speak
Having conversations ’bout the cheese, talking guapenese with me
2,000 dollars on sneaks, that’s a K a feet
I keep this shit a hunnid, keep it Gucci, keep it double G

Andre Drummond & 76ers Agree On 1-Year Deal, Despite Past Beef With Joel Embiid

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The Philidelphia 76ers and veteran center Andre Drummond have agreed on a one-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It is expected to be for the league minimum.

Drummond, a two-time NBA All-Star, last played for the Los Angeles Lakers where he averaged 11.9 points and 10.2 boards in 21 appearances. Earlier in the season, he averaged 17.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in 25 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Andre Drummond, 76ers
Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

76ers star Joel Embiid and Drummond have a noted history together. Throughout recent years the two centers have publically feuded.

“I’ve been playing for six years and I’ve missed maybe four-five games,” Drummond said in Dec. 2017 after Emiid called out his poor shooting skills. “So when he can play a whole season without taking a rest, he can come talk to me.”

Soon after, the beef appeared to be over when Embiid explained to reporters: “We’re just having fun. I love having fun on social media. He does, too. We’re just young kids having fun out there.”

In 2018, however, Embiid continued the trash-talking on Twitter: “I own a lot of real estate in @andredrummondd head and I’m on my way to build more. #Bum #TheProcess.”

Neither Embiid nor Drummond have commented on joining sides despite their past beef.

[Via]

Fredo Bang Slides Through With The “Street Team”

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Just a few weeks ago, Fredo Bang was arrested ahead of Rolling Loud in connection to a 2019 shooting allegedly involving NBA Youngboy. Unfortunately, the arrest occurred days before he was set to make his appearance on the festival stage, which many artists, in general, have anticipated since the start of the pandemic.

Despite his legal situation, the rapper is keeping a steady grip on the streets with the release of new music. On Friday, the rapper dropped off his latest record, “Street Team.” Putting his melodic sensibilities on hold, Fredo tackles the Hardbody B-Eazy and DJ Chose production with a menacing flow detailing violence and revenge. He also throws a shout out to Boosie Badazz on the record, acknowledging their familial ties. 

Peep the record below.

Quotable Lyrics
Dancing with that Draco while I shoot, check my two-step
I’ve been knocking n***as off since I touched down, I got a few left
He with my blood but I know cuz, he keep a choppa (he got a blue belt)
I set it off from Bad Azz but I’m not my cousin Boo, yeah

People Are Losing It Over A Sign Language Interpreter’s On-Point ‘WAP’ Rendition At Lollapalooza

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Since its release nearly a year ago, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion‘s internet-breaking song “WAP” has been met with both praise and outrage over its raunchy lyrical content. Elected officials have complained about the song on the floor of Congress and the rappers’ performance of the track at the 2021 Grammys resulted in over 1,000 FCC complaints. But compared to a sign language interpreter’s rendition of “WAP” alongside Megan at Lollapalooza last weekend, their Grammys set could be considered relatively tame.

Megan took the Lollapalooza stage Saturday to a massive crowd of festivalgoers where she enticed the audience with a number of her hits. But as she delivered the memorable lyrics to her “WAP” collaboration, someone else on stage stole the show. A sign language interpreter accompanied Megan at side stage to perform the song in American Sign Language, and one fan captured a clip of them performing Cardi’s verse. As expected, “WAP” translated into ASL is as explicit (or more so) as the original track.

This is far from the first time a sign language interpreter has gone viral for their impressive performances at concerts. Most recently, a sign language interpreter who accompanied Twista on stage at a 2019 show went viral for their rapid-fire signing of the rapper’s lyrics.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.