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It’s not uncommon to hear someone describe their life as “a movie,” even if the life in question is the furthest thing from cinematic as humanely possible. Yet for Philadelphia-born Scott Storch, one of the great producers of the past twenty years, his insane story seems tailor-made for the silver screen.

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From holding it down as The Roots‘ piano player to linking with Dr. Dre, to partying with the likes of Diddy, Kim Kardashian, and Paris Hilton, to squandering a multi-million dollar fortune, to rising from the ashes and building himself back up again — the Scott Storch story is an epic tale of trial, tribulation, and triumph. Yesterday, the producer took to Instagram to inform the masses that a Scott Storch movie is indeed on the way, though no further details were provided.

For one, it’s unclear as to whether the movie will be a major studio production, not unlike that of NWA’s Straight Outta Compton. Given that we can only assume a young Dr. Dre will be present in the movie, along with countless other real-life celebrities, it stands to reason that a big-budget will be necessary. Especially if the full extent of Storch’s lavish and yacht-heavy lifestyle is to be portrayed. The question is, which actor is best suited to step into the leading role? And perhaps more importantly, will we finally get to the bottom of this particular plotline? 

Following a lengthy and successful musical career that elevated him into a genuine fan favorite, it’s fair to say that A$AP Ferg is doing quite well for himself. Today, Ferg teamed up with Architectural Digest as the latest host of the ongoing “Home Tour” series, a premise that delivers exactly what it promises. Taking a moment to film a brief tour of his New Jersey home, the Hood Pope breaks down some of his finest art pieces, tells a few stories, and more — all while giving us a first-hand look at the lavish life of luxury so often enjoyed by hip-hop’s elite.

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Though he has only been situated at the house for about a year, Ferg has already made it decidedly his own. “It’s different from being an inner-city kid,” he admits. “It’s quiet, all the noise is cut off. When I’m traveling the world and meeting all these people, shaking hands, I’m on stage all the time, it’s always cool to come back to a house that’s real chill, tranquil. This is my safe haven right here.”

He also showcases a few of his favorite art pieces, a collection that includes several custom paintings, authentic African masks, a machete from Liberia, and much more. His dining room is equally impressive, with his table custom made by an artist he discovered on Instagram. The entire house is nothing short of stunning, and it’s no wonder Ferg is so eager to throw the fireplace on, lounge on his couch, and simply catch a vibe. Check out the entire tour below.

Due to the Coronavirus, all sports have been put on hold until further notice. This is particularly troubling when you consider just how important sports are to millions of fans throughout the world. In North America, sports fans have been going through some serious withdrawals and they are desperate for some content. To appease this demand, the NBA and ESPN teamed up for a H-O-R-S-E competition between current and former NBA and WNBA players.

The first round went down over the weekend and the production value left a lot to be desired. On Thursday night, the competition upped its game and provided fans with a semi-final and finals round. First off, Mike Conley was able to defeat Chancey Billups while Zach Lavine beat Allie Quigley. From there, Conley and Lavine faced off in the Finals, with Conley taking the game easily.

While the competition didn’t feature the biggest names, it was still a nice diversion from everything going on in the world right now. Considering the event is fairly easy to set up, perhaps we can see another competition with different names, in the not so distant future. 

Let us know in the comments below what you thought of the initiative and whether or not you enjoyed it.

ESPN had the bright idea just a couple of weeks ago to host a H-O-R-S-E tournament featuring former NBA players, current NBA players, and even some WNBA stars. The first matchups were last night and let's just say, it didn't go as well as people were hoping. For starters, let's go with the results. Chauncey Billups beat Trae Young, Mike Conley defeated Tamika Catchings, Allie Quigley upset Chris Paul, and finally, Zach Lavine knocked off Paul Pierce.

While these results are fine, there is no denying just how bad the quality of the broadcast was. Now listen, ESPN can't send camera crews outside because we are in the midst of a pandemic. However, grainy Nokia phone footage isn't exactly the best alternative either and that's exactly what we got. Just look at the clip of Trae Young below, for an example.

Sports fans have been deprived of content throughout this quarantine period and sports leagues around the world are well-aware of that. The NBA is taking matters into their own hands and are coming through with a competition that will certainly get fans excited. We reported over the weekend that the NBA would have a H-O-R-S-E competition with some of the NBA’s best players. This is a classic game amongst basketball players and now, the NBA will be turning it into a primetime event.

The eight participants have been revealed and it is surely going to be a lot of fun. The players are split into two groups, with the winner of each group advancing to the finals. In group 1, we have Chauncey Billups, Tamika Catchings, Mike Conley Jr, and Trae Young. Meanwhile, group 2 features the likes of Allie Quigley, Paul Pierce, Chris Paul, and Zach Lavine.

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On Sunday, April 12th at 7PM EST, the quarterfinal matchups will take place. The players will be in their respective homes where they all have nets set up. The four semi-finalists will play on Thursday, April 16th at 9 PM EST. That same night, the winner of the entire tournament will be crowned.

Let us know in the comments below who you think is going to come away with the win.

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When Drake was constructing his multi-million dollar complex in Toronto, Ontario, it was the complete talk of the town. In one of the most exclusive areas of the city, Drake was surrounded by wealthy individuals who had built Toronto’s reputation for years. It was only right for him to become their neighbor. The globally-recognized recording artist has offered a few glimpses at the inside of his crib, but it took a country-wide quarantine for him to fully show off his digs to the world.

For the May edition of Architectural Digest, Drake is the official cover star, allowing cameras inside his lavish mansion for an aesthetically pleasing tour. 

With ceilings so high that his friends on the Toronto Raptors never need to worry about bumping their heads, Drake’s home is absolutely magnificent. The grand hall upon entering is bright from natural light, minimalistic in nature. A duo of KAWS artworks serves as butlers, welcoming you into one of the most beautiful homes in the world. 

On the way to his indoor basketball court, which features a tribute to Kobe Bryant, a row of exclusive jerseys that have likely been gifted to him by the players themselves lines the walls with dim lighting. The most divine marble countertops highlight the kitchen and, rewarding anybody that was curious, Drake also shows the world where the magic happens.

Take a look at the gallery below and check out where one of the most successful recording artists of all time calls home.

NBA players have nothing else to do right now so as a way to supplement their inability to play basketball, the good people at Take-Two Interactive put on a tournament in collaboration with ESPN and the NBA. Sixteen NBA players were selected to be a part of an NBA 2K20 tournament that will be broadcast on National Television. In fact, the first four matchups were on TV last night and the entire event lasted just over three hours.

The four matchups included Kevin Durant vs. Derrick Jones Jr, Tray Young vs. Harrison Barnes, Zach Lavine vs Deandre Ayton, and Hassan Whiteside vs Patrick Beverley. Thanks to his overall rating, Durant was the number one seed but he ended up being upset by Jones, who beat him 78-62.

The pantheon of great producers has led to some fantastic discussions, with many prominent names being tossed into the hat. Every so often, a case for Scott Storch will be made, though his inclusion in top-five discussions is surprisingly uncommon. A curious development, given his vast discography of hits and more importantly, his unparalleled musical aptitude. Lest we forget, Scott Storch is the piano man, a title he has taken to wearing like a badge of honor.

Though many producers have become capable keyboard players in their own right, Storch is a virtuoso by comparison. Originally dipping his toes in hip-hop as a piano player in The Roots, Storch honed his skills as a band member creating and reacting in real-time. No computers, simply instinct and technical prowess. Such skills are the type to ultimately prove invaluable, and before long Storch had developed a signature sound that would soon win over the legendary Dr. Dre.

When speaking to Storch about his work on Dr. Dre’s 2001, he explained those sessions ultimately paved the way for the early millennium Aftermath sound to develop. “I came in and had this weird ominous piano-driven sound. It was something I crafted living in the East Coast, and I brought it to the West Coast,” explains Storch. “Dr. Dre harnessed it He understood what to do with that and turned it into a new generation of West Coast music. It went from being Funkadelic, but still cool and dark, to a new orchestral type of thing.”

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Before long, Storch’s minor-key piano vibe became an integral component of Dr. Dre’s production. Between the years of 1999 and 2004, Storch was essentially the Doc’s right-hand man, anchoring his instrumentals with orchestral flair. It’s no secret that Storch laid down the now-iconic “Still D.R.E.” piano riff. But the contributions only continued. He co-produced and played on Eve’s “Let Me Blow Ya Mind.” He helped introduce G-Unit’s debut album Beg For Mercy with a co-production credit on “Poppin Them Thangs.” He helped compose the spooky trifecta of “Truck Volume,” “Break Ya Neck” and “Holla” off Busta Rhymes’ excellent Genesis project. Together with Dr. Dre, Storch helped bring a hard-hitting and unprecedented darkness to mainstream music, culminating in an era many still revere as Aftermath’s creative pinnacle.

While the nature of Dre and Storch’s in-studio dynamic isn’t exactly common knowledge, the collaborative nature of their relationship has been a sticking point for some critics. Despite the fact that Storch’s creativity and musical ability helped bring a new weapon into the Doc’s arsenal, some have argued that his co-production work isn’t as impressive as one handling lone responsibility. Nevermind that a frequently touted Top-5 contender, Kanye West, has been collaborating on instrumentals for years now. To those people, I would recommend factoring in a producer’s mind and vision for a more specific analysis. Where do they tend to go on a sonic level — which scales and soundscapes do they favor? Coming to such a conclusion is one of the most rewarding journeys a hip-hop head can take.

Storch’s work with Dre made his preference for the minor key very clear; after all, the man himself described his early musical stylings as “ominous.” Yet such a preference was clearly shared by Dre himself, albeit both tended to express it slightly differently. Storch seldom gravitated toward hopelessness like Dre, who exhibited such qualities across Eminem’s Relapseand haunting instrumentals like Busta Rhymes’ “Legend Of The Fall Off.” Instead, Storch seemed to gravitate toward a more anthemic direction, perhaps a testament to his growing repertoire of melodic collaborators. Where the Aftermath days found him working almost exclusively with rappers, some of his biggest solo hits came by way of Chris Brown’s “Run It,” Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River” with Timbaland, and Beyonce’s Sean Paul-assisted “Baby Boy.” The aforementioned songs found Storch experimenting with new sounds, with the latter introducing Middle Eastern-inspired harmonies into his repertoire.

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In fact, that stylistic choice would go on to inform a few of his subsequent hip-hop hits, from Fat Joe’s “Lean Back” to Jadakiss’ “U Make Me Wanna” to 50 Cent’s back to back smut bangers “Candy Shop” and “Just A Lil Bit.” Even his percussion seemed to reflect this harmonic shift, with Storch seeming to favor more rhythmic drum arrangements than his former mentor. Having benefitted from a newfound mastery of the harmonic minor scale and an increasingly vast collection of synthesizers, there soon became a lush quality to Storch’s increasingly versatile production. One that helped him acquaint himself quite nicely with the R&B scene, with Mario’s timeless “Let Me Love You” serving as a prime example.

If last night’s beat battle against the equally legendary Mannie Fresh proved anything, it’s that Storch is easily one of the game’s most versatile hitmakers. Between the years of 2004 and 2006, his run was among the most successful hip-hop has ever seen. It was certainly enough to yield him a substantial fortune, which went on to fuel a lavish lifestyle that would ultimately leave his friend collaborator Fat Joe awestruck at the sheer hedonism. And while reckless habits might have spelled his end under different circumstances, Storch is in the midst of a career renaissance, having recently worked with young stars like Russ, Post Malone, Trippie Redd, and Roddy Ricch. Few can say he isn’t adaptive, showing a willingness to meet an artist on their playing field, no matter their musical background — all while dazzling his fellow stoners with the blinding speed of his piano fingers. 

Days have gone by and the cabin fever is reaching an all-time high, which in itself has led to some interesting and undeniably boredom-induced creative outlets. While some artists have taken to broadcasting concerts and digital gatherings, others have taken solace in physical activity, limited though space may happen to be. Luckily, Tory Lanez has more than enough legroom to keep his blood pressure pumping, as evidenced by his recently unveiled quarantine workout plan. 

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In the amusing clip, the Torontonian takes to his penthouse balcony, which happens to overlook a stunning view of the 6ix, for some much-needed cardio. While an unidentified cameraman watches, bewildered at that, Lanez frolics to and fro like a swimmer doing laps. True, a treadmill might serve a similar purpose, but nothing can replace the feeling of wind and sun on skin. And given that social isolation is quite possibly a few major gatherings away from being legally enforced, we need all the safe outdoor time we can get.

Check out Tory’s quarantine workout below, and keep an eye out for that New Toronto 3 joint to arrive if and when the man stops running. And given the size of that lavish balcony, who knows when that might be? 

The Lox rapper Styles P is allowing the public into his world and marriage to Adjua Styles. The veteran rapper and his wife of 25 years are currently featured on Marriage Boot Camp, and they’ve been addressing the issues in their marriage that has caused their relationship to become stagnate. They’ve endured infidelity, monotony, and the suicide of their 20-year-old daughter five years ago. 

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In a recent episode, the Marriage Boot Camp couples addressed their intimacy issues and how they respond to one another in the bedroom. Adjua admitted that after Styles P had an affair, she withholds sex when she feels like it. “So, now it’s like, okay, can’t screw my wife, she wanna use sex as a weapon,” Styles P said. Adjua added that their communication changed, thus shifting their connection, as well. “It’s not healthy,” she said. “It’s less kindness.”

“I was very less kind,” Styles P admitted. “I felt guilty…more failure than guilt.” Then, using hand puppets of themselves, they lavished each other in compliments in a heartwarming—yet awkward—scene. “No matter what, we’ll make it through because we have each other,” the rapper said. “I’m sorry.” Check out the brief clip of Styles P and Adjua Styles below.

Three-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Ne-Yo, and his soon-to-be ex-wife, Crystal Smith’s marriage is coming to an end after four years, and Crystal is looking forward to moving out their home in the near future. Just last month, the two were hinting to the general public that their relationship was coming to a close, and now, just weeks, later both parties have been celebrating their upcoming divorce as if they won the Super Bowl. After originally meeting in 2015, the “On Ur Mind” singer and his estranged wife wed the following year. Throughout their half a decade relationship, the two were blessed to have two beautiful children in Shaffer Smith Jr (born 2016) and Roman Alexander-Raj Smith (born 2018). While Smith has claimed that Ne-Yo is an amazing father despite the status of their relationship, she’s ready to move on and his currently in the hunt of a home to call her own.  Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Crystal Smith took to her Instagram Story to reveal that she is currently house hunting, posting a Boomerang video of a photo of a lavish two-story home in Georgia, according to The Blast. Some of her additional Instagram Story content included a joint rolling presentation, a text post that read “Attention < Respect,” a coronavirus awareness parody song, videos of her children, and more. 

Since their split, both parties have been enjoying their new single status. Ne-Yo has been spotted partying with a head-turning bellydancer and multiple models, while Crystal Smith was caught getting close with Ryan Henry of Black Ink Crew: Chicago. Crystal Smith has also returned Ne-Yo’s wedding ring which prompted him to produce a track entitled “Pinky Ring,” promising he will turn his soon-to-be ex-wife’s wedding ring into a pinky ring. 

Neither party has yet to file for divorce, but Crystal Smith appears to have fully moved on as she is currently looking to purchase a home for her and her two children. You can view her Instagram Story, here, and check out one of her latest Instagram posts in the photo provided below. 

One can’t count the number of highlights from Dr. Dre‘s career. The rap mogul is one of the most revered and respected musicians in hip hop, and while there have been plenty of monumental moments throughout his reign, his discovery and development of Eminem stands out among fans. It was decades ago that Dre and Em joined forces, and what emerged were hit songs, world tours, coveted awards, and street accolades. Rapper Royce Da 5’9″ recently reflected on what it was like recording with Dre back in those early days and he shared some wisdom delivered by the Aftermath founder.

“There was a door that we went to, I believe we went down some stairs to get in the studio room,” Royce recalled. “It was just like a studio in a building. Like, rather it had been in a house or in a building, it looked like we were in a huge studio in a building… After we had been coming back and recording there a couple days, he actually showed us the house.”

Royce added, “We went through another door and went up some stairs and now we’re in his kitchen. That was my first time being in a mansion. So, we lookin’ around, he’s showing us different rooms and then we think that’s the whole house and then it’s like, ‘Alright, come down here.’ Then we go down another long hallway and now we’re on a whole ‘nother side.” The house tour of all the rooms seemed like a never-ending process. 

“The whole time, I just remember him going, ‘Now remember, money is easy to make, but it’s hard to keep,'” Royce said. Dre would take them from room-to-room occasionally interrupting his own train of thought to remind his guests that “money is easy to make, but hard to keep.” A line similar to that ended up on Kendrick Lamar‘s track “Wesley’s Theory” from To Pimp a Butterfly in a recorded message from Dre where the mogul says:

Yo, what’s up? It’s Dre
Remember the first time you came out to the house?
You said you wanted a spot like mine
But remember, anybody can get it
The hard part is keepin’ it, motherfu*ker

Check out Royce Da 5’9″ share his story in full below, including Eminem receiving permission to put his feet on the superproducer’s table.

Kanye West is undoubtedly one of the most critically acclaimed musicians of the 21st century. But it’s not only his musical career that’s been entertaining to follow. From famously interrupting and ruining Taylor Swift’s 2009 MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech because he believed Beyonce had been snubbed, to claiming that his utterly strange support of Donald Trump was “God’s practical joke on all liberals,” the Chicagoan has cultivated a public persona of being brash, arrogant and bizarre. But let’s face it, the man’s a born entertainer and this audacity absolutely spills into his music. Since 2004, when he strode into the rap scene with his first project, College Dropout, it’s been mostly back-to-back hits. To avoid a sophomore slump, though, Kanye knew he had to build off the foundation he laid on his debut. Which is exactly what he did in 2005 with his exquisite follow up album, Late Registration.

Call him what you will — Hov, Jigga, or simply Jay-Z — we’re talking about one of the most influential voices in the world today. Jay-Z’s gimlet-eyed focus has turned him into the quintessential black capitalist, an entertainment business mogul with a career pathway strewn with Grammy awards, advertising sponsorships, record labels, and philanthropic endeavors. In 2019, he was named by Forbes magazine as the first hip-hop artist billionaire, thanks to investments in clothing, champagne, cognac, the ride-hailing service Uber and his Roc Nation entertainment company. But none of this would have been possible without his music. Born Shawn Carter, he grew up in Brooklyn’s tough Marcy Houses projects and broke onto the scene with his 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt. His profound talent as a lyrical marksman was immediately apparent as was his commitment to tell the stories of black men trapped, and too often killed, by the cruel system in which he was raised. But after national success with his debut, could he prove himself on the worldwide stage with his 1997 sophomore album, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.?

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LYRICISM

Jay-Z’s sophomore project In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 helped solidify his reputation as a true wordsmith. Showcasing his uncanny storytelling abilities he effortlessly raps about his rapid upward trajectory, the conflicting emotions of sudden stardom, and becoming the hottest new artist in Brooklyn. On the first track, “Intro/A Million and One Questions/ Rhyme No More,” he dives right into calling out the doubters and detractors:

“A lot of speculation
On the monies I’ve made, honies I’ve slayed
How is he for real? Is that N***a really paid?
Hustlers I’ve met, dealt with direct
Is it true he stayed in beef and slept with a TEC?
What’s the position you hold?
Can you really match a triple platinum artist buck by buck
But only a single goin’ gold.”

Never mind that Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z’s debut album, only achieved modest success on the charts and sold less than 500,000 copies in the first year — it doesn’t stop him from bragging openly about his newfound riches: “Can you really match a triple platinum artist buck by buck/ but only a single goin’ gold.” He even audaciously compares himself to the then King of New York, Notorious B.I.G., who had only recently been murdered. Reminding everyone of his “triple platinum artist” status, Jay-Z wastes no time swooping in to claim the title for himself.

While his debut was all about exposing his mafioso style and bad boy mentality, by contrast In My Lifetime is an up-close-and-deeply personal story that showcases Jay’s talent for mining the emotional landscape. In “You Must Love Me” he opens with a verse to his addict mother, who was struggling with her own demons when her son began selling drugs: “All you did was motivate me: ‘Don’t let ’em hold you back!’/What’d I do?/Turned around, and I sold you crack.” It’s a harrowing account of a miserable childhood of violence, drugs, and a sadly marginalized life. Through it, he continues to rap, “You must love me,” which rings out like a sombre and beautiful echo. On another track, “Imaginary Player,” he appears eager to show his young followers that business acumen and rap can coexist:

“You got show dough, little to no dough
Sell a bunch of records and you still owe dough
I got 900 and 96 plus 4 mo’ dough”

Jay’s distrust of record companies was well documented even early on, leading him to form his own lucrative label with Dame Dash in Roc-A-Fella Records. In the clever bar above, he warns artists who are languishing in dead-end record labels, making money only from performances and not from album sales. In many ways, In My Lifetime served as one of the first manifestos on how to break free of the shackles of poverty and achieve success. And when it’s narrated by one of the greatest storytellers in rap history, you listen.

Regarded as one of the finest hip-hop albums of the century, Kanye’s sophomore work Late Registration also touches on thorny subjects such as poverty, drug trafficking, racism, the toxic college fraternity culture and the blood-diamond trade. By doing so, Kanye proved, especially in 2005, that he was one of the only mainstream rappers willing to tackle political issues. In “Diamonds,” he raps about the links between the jewellery trade and Sierra Leone’s civil war. In “Crack Music,” he exposes the oppression of black militancy by drug use, while in “Roses,” he takes on America’s healthcare crisis. Not a natural storyteller, Kanye’s lyrics show flashes of brilliance occasionally. But no one can ever accuse him of not using his platform to shine a spotlight on controversial topics — which is more than you can say about his peers.

Late Registration is peppered with skits and acapella monologues to relay various tales, including one about Kanye joining a black fraternity, where a proletarian ethos rules: no need for fancy cars or trophy girlfriends. However  Kanye is expelled from the fraternity after getting caught breaking the rules: making beats for money, taking showers, and buying new clothes. It’s Kayne’s attempt to debunk the myth that the American dream is attained only through materialism. “Gold Digger” is unquestionably the best-known song on the album. Featuring the sensational voice of Jamie Foxx, Kanye delves into a narrative about the dire life of an African American man being financially manipulated by his wife, a.k.a. the gold digger.

“I know there’s dudes ballin’, and yeah, that’s nice
And they gonna keep callin’ and tryin’, but you stay right, girl
And when you get on, he’ll leave yo’ ass for a while girl”

Then comes a superb plot-twist: after being faithful and sticking with his wife through all their trials and tribulations, the husband betrays her with a white woman. The gold digger needs a rich man, the rich man needs a trophy wife. It’s life in hip-hop ville, according to Kanye. “Addiction” is an underrated gem on the album, and in it, Kanye explores the existential dilemma of finding satisfaction through life’s vices:

“What’s your addiction? Is it money? Is it girls? Is it weed?
I’ve been afflicted by not one, not two, but all three”

He continues:

“Why everything that’s supposed to be bad make me feel so good?
Everything they told me not to is exactly what I would
Man, I tried to stop man, I tried the best I could
But you make me smile”

Kanye’s music is his conduit to relay stories about his life, his addictions and his obsessions. And Late Registration is full of relatable stories. He may well be a better producer than a rapper, never having delivered anything as lyrically intricate or smooth as our man Jay. But Ye, even back in the 2000s, was savvy enough — and you can’t deny his passion and determination — to know that storytelling brings people together.

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PRODUCTION

Kanye’s production skills are second to none. Late Registration is proof of his talent. The early 2000s saw work from many memorable producers but Kanye was one of the first to use samples and orchestral melodies behind his drums to provide upbeat and soulful tempos. Aside from Dr. Dre and Scott Storch, he was one of the earliest to introduce the piano to the genre, which has since become one of the most used instruments in hip-hop. It’s often said that Kanye is one of the best producer-songwriters in music history and this album was probably where that legacy first took root.

In My Lifetime showcases textbook, New York-style beats from the late 90s. Puff Daddy’s production team, The Hitmen, handled this album and included beat masters such as DJ Premier, Ski, Buckwild and Prestige. With the expertise of this top-tier production ensemble, the album possessed a vastly more polished sound than its predecessor. It even featured a series of cleverly placed samples that included Biggie Smalls on “Face Off” and Benjamin Lattimore on the intro track. In retrospect, it’s clear that this was the pivotal moment when Jay-Z began honing his musical techniques and decided to transition from using standard drum beats to more sophisticated ones.

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IMPACT

In My Lifetime Vol. 1 and Late Registration are undoubtedly two of the most prominent hip-hop albums in the past thirty years. For Jay-Z, it was his first opportunity to start a global dialogue about his impoverished beginnings, paired nicely with some bragging about his jiggy and newfound lavish lifestyle. But at its core, it was an album that spoke to the streets and all of the young people living there who endure so much. Go ahead, dream, Jay-Z tells them, because you too can straddle both extremes.

For Kanye West, Late Registration was proof of his brilliance and his role on this earth: to transform the production-scape of rap albums forevermore. People also learned that he’s an artist willing to start necessary dialogues by going to places many rappers are too afraid to deal with. The world got their first taste of the full Kanye West package with Late Registration, hailed an “undeniable triumph” by Rolling Stone magazine and adored by millions. Let us know which album you think is best.

As the world continues to pray for Slick Woods’s recovery, the top model has been lavishing in the love of a lady friend. It was two days ago when Slick shared a selfie on Instagram that showed her with a swollen lip. “Man another seizure f*ck the bulls*ht I’m going vegan #faceplant,” she wrote in the caption. The model was diagnosed with cancer, now in its third stage, and has been undergoing chemotherapy. Slick has also been sharing updates with her fans throughout her journey.

Fernanda Calfat / Stringer / Getty Images

Viewers were surprised to see Slick Woods on the last season of Love & Hip Hop Hollywood alongside her then-boyfriend, Micky Munday. The rapper and Slick were reportedly living together with their children at one point, but it’s now clear that they’ve decided to part ways. Over the last two days, Slick has been sharing photos of herself and her female companion—but this may be a former lover of the past that has rekindled romance. 

“Me n my bby against the world,” Slick captioned one photo. In another of Slick’s girlfriend kissing her on the cheek, the model wrote, “Bby talk to me nice.” In a third, “Love you like cooked food.” When a fan asked about what happened to Micky, Slick reportedly said, “Our relationship expired.” Check out the photos below.

This weekend, some of the NBA's best players will be in Chicago for NBA All-Star weekend. The actual game is taking place on Sunday but the skills competition will go down on Saturday. Perhaps the best part of the skills competition is the dunk contest which typically provides some of the best highlights of the entire weekend. First Take's Stephen A. Smith is a huge fan of the dunk contest and today on the show, he counted down the five best dunk content champions of all-time.

Smith started the list with Spud Webb at number 5, Zach LaVine at 4, Dominique Wilkins at 3, Michael Jordan at 2, and finally, Vince Carter at number one. All five of these men had iconic dunk contest performances, especially Webb who was able to pull off some incredible moves despite only being 5'8."

We already knew that Damian Lillard was headed to Chicago for the NBA All Star Weekend, but what we didn't know was that Dame D.O.L.L.A would be making the trip as well. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Portland Trail Blazers All Star will show off his rap skills during a musical performance on All Star Saturday night.

After weeks of rumors and speculation, the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves have finally reached a deal centered around D'Angelo Russell and Andrew Wiggins. As first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Warriors are sending Russell to Minnesota in exchange for Wiggins, as well as a Top-3 protected 2021 first-round pick and an unprotected second-rounder in 2021.

Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon might be wearing some brand new sneakers when he takes the court for the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest on February 15th.

According to ESPN's Nick DePaula, Gordon is poised to become the face of Chinese sportswear brand 361 Degrees as part of a proposed multi-million dollar sneaker deal. DePaula notes that the explosive 24-year old forward would also receive his own signature sneaker as part of the partnership.

Witnessing the bizarre timeline and events of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s life has inspired an entire subgenre of some of the greatest television dramas of this current generation. However, with the former head of the Sinaloa Cartel serving a lifetime prison sentence in Colorado, he missed the opportunity to walk his daughter, Alejandrina Gisselle Guzmán Salazar down the aisle late last month as she wed, Édgar Cázares, the nephew of Blanca Margarita Cazares, also known as “The Empress.”

ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images

The two held a private, lavish ceremony at the Cathedral of Culiacán, in the heart of the city where the Sinaloa Cartel ran their operation led by El Chapo and still thrives today. The celebration featuring hundreds of guests, a bulletproof limo, multiple highly-popularized Mexican bands, and a fireworks display was heavily guarded by armed cartel members and cordoned off by yellow police tape.

According to The Sun, Alejandrina shared the dance floor with her mother, Maria, El Chapo’s first wife, in his presence. 

33-year-old, Alejandrina Gisselle Guzmán Salazar and Édgar Cázares have officially fused the Sinaloa Cartel with Blanca Margarita Cazares’ alleged cartel money laundering enterprise that is supposedly responsible for funneling billions of dollars of cartel money through real estate, factories, restaurants, and more throughout Mexico and the United States. 

The Sinaloa Cartel’s ability to take over the prestigious Cathedral of Culiacán and use it as a wedding venue for El Chapo’s daughter sparked outrage throughout Mexico. Falko Ernst, the senior Mexico analyst for the International Crisis Group, had this to say to The Guardian:

“It is a reminder of how deeply embedded and powerful the Guzmán family remains in Sinaloa’s society. They are effectively part of the elite. They are treated as such by other members of the elite, including parts of the church.”

Rodolfo Soriano-Nuñez, a sociologist who studies the Mexican Catholic Church, claims that the church has had ties to organized crime syndicates for decades as he stated:

“Locking down the cathedral and pretty much giving it away gives very bad optics and forces one to raise all sorts of questions regarding the decision-making process.”

An Instagram account entitled, @chicapicosa2, was able to obtain photos of Alejandrina and Édgar on their wedding day, but since then has removed the photos. However, they did obtain some additional footage of the ceremony worthy of a look. Check out the videos and photos of Alejandrina Gisselle Guzmán Salazar and Édgar Cázares’ big day below. 

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira did the damn thing at last night's Super Bowl LIV that went down in Miami. The Kansas City Chiefs took home the golden trophy that night beating San Fransico 31-20 and while some predicted the win and went home a few thousand richer, others who may have predicted that Jennifer was going to bring out Ja Rule didn't get what they expected. 

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Before the Super Bowl took place, Ja Rule chatted about his former collaborator hitting the stage and made it clear that he was very much down to join her. “Jennifer is my sister, of course I would perform,” he said. “If Jennifer asked me to come to the Super Bowl to perform with her, of course I will come. When have I ever not come when she asked to perform with her?” 

Jennifer and Shakira invited Bad Bunny and J. Blavin to the stage but unfortunately, Ja Rule missed the mark. His presence was missed since fans have taken to Twitter to share a few words on the "It's Murda" rapper not making an appearance. "The tease of hearing Ja Rules voice say “it must be the ass” and him not walking out is literally the biggest let down of my life .... @JLo you broke my soul," one user wrote. 

Peep more reactions below.

Over the weekend, many were left grappling with a disturbing open letter from Mase to Diddy. Essentially, the former Bad Boy lyricist called hypocrisy on Diddy‘s pledge for black ownership in music, detailing his own experience being signed in an unfair publishing deal. Given the increasing distrust of major labels and their practices, it wasn’t surprising to see a debate on the topic explored. Naturally, the guys over at the Joe Budden Podcast had some interesting and engaging takes on the subject. 

Mal gives a riveting rendition of Mase‘s open letter to Puffy, which details a two-million-dollar offer spurned by the Bad Boy CEO. After laughing that Mase is “snitching,” Budden declares himself to be on Diddy’s side. “Even if they did this correctly, how much publishing do you think he was giving Mase?” asks Joe. “If me and [Parks] do a song, before the song is released, we have to get on the phone and go back and forth about publishing. Who owns what percentage of what record. Those are the conversations that should be shared more.”

Mal interjects that Mase wrote the majority of Puffy’s music, but Joe feels that business is business. “Let’s say that Mase at nineteen knew everything there was to know about publishing. He would have to have the conversation, the back and forth. If the conversation were to be hard, how much do you think he’s coming away with…I’m Puff, coming off all these successful albums, and I have a sound and a formula and a look that’s going to work. I also have the relationships, I have everything. With that said, yes you can rap but I’m going to come in there and construct everything with you and change your life.”

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images 

“What happened here is wrong,” he continues. “20k for fifty years, I don’t know nothin’ about that. But if everything happened correctly, I don’t think Mase is walking away with a lot of his pub at all.” After Parks maintains that he’s on Mase’s side, Budden interjects. “I think all of us with a heart will read this and say something isn’t right. But whatever is done got done. We’re in 2020 and let’s assume the Harlem World publishing is worth what…I have it at eight figures, that’s my guess. In 2020, you come to me and offer two mill for something worth eight-figures. How many people do you know today that’s honoring that and giving it back?”

Mal feels that if someone did some “fucked up shit back in the day,” they should make it right when given the chance. “[He] still gave a new artist a shitty deal,” says Mal. “Someone who didn’t know about the industry. [He] took advantage of somebody. Even back then, [20 grand] was chump change compared to what they were selling. It was bullshit money. Now you’re at a point where you’re going to stand on stage and speak this thing, which is dope, cool. But make shit right with the artist you have wrong shit with…The bottom line is, the deal happened over twenty years ago. We know what we know about business, Mase was nineteen back then, happy to make some money, be driving a nice car. Now, when you learn the business, it’s like damn, you gave me a fucked up deal.”

Joe claims that it’s still going on, further Mal’s point. “You can’t preach this if we enslaving each other,” he continues. “You speaking all this ownership this, ownership that but it’s like, you still signing these young cats off the streets who don’t know about the business, and ya’ll raping them. Ya’ll taking advantage. If it was a white label owner, we’d be going crazy.” Check it out below, with the discussion sparking up around the seventy-minute mark. 

The 2020 NBA Dunk Contest field has reportedly been finalized and, sadly, the fourth participant is not two-time champion Zach LaVine.

According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Milwaukee Bucks' Pat Connaughton has agreed to participate in the contest on February 15th, joining Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon, and Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr. 

This year, not one, but two of the world's biggest stars were charged as the headliners of the Super Bowl Halftime show as Jennifer Lopez and Shakira come together to lead a Latin-infused show that ran through their biggest hits.

This time around, the ladies made room for additional appearances from Bad Bunny and J. Blavin. Noticeably missing, by fans' measures, were the likes of Pitbull and Wyclef Jean, who would seemingly prove to be welcome collaborators in such a setting. 

Shakira began things with her "She Wolf" and "Empire" cuts before moving into her "Whenever, Wherever" smash. Bad Bunny appeared for a rendition of "I Like It." In her portion of the set, she also flirted with her "Hips Don't Lie" track sans Jean. 

Basketball fans were bummed out when Memphis Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant turned down an invitation to the 2020 Dunk Contest, but the NBA's "Plan B" has us more excited than ever for All Star Saturday night. According to Shams Charania, Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon has agreed to participate in the Dunk Contest, joining Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard and Miami Heat forward Derrick Jones Jr.

The entirety of hip-hop is pretty much obsessed with Zodiac signs. We can go as far as back as OutKast’s 1998 album Aquemini, the title for which combined Big Boi’s astrological sign with that of Andre 3000’s. Nicki throws out Sag vibes on her 2018 single “Barbie Tingz” with the line, “Sagittarius so you know I’m an optimist.” Last week Newlyweds Safaree and Erica Mena had an insightful 20 minute astrology reading that went in depth about their personalities and past relationships.

Drake loves to highlight the fact that he’s a Scorpio even naming a summer 2018 double album Scorpion after one of the symbols of the sign, beyond the October’s Very Own collective alluding to it. Beyoncé has also weighed in on her zodiac sign; Virgo. In an interview with Dazed & Confused she said “she’s a Virgo to a tee..a control freak…and pays attention to details.” In fact, on her 2003 album Dangerously in Love, she had two songs about astrology: “Gifts from a Virgo” and “Signs.”

The examples are endless, so we decided to make it easy and round up the rappers that reflect the best and not-so-best characteristics of their sign.  

Aquarius: Gucci Mane 

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Progressive, original, emotional, uncompromising

Gucci Mane is the OG Aquarius. His progressive side has been showing throughout his 10+ year career. When Guwop debuted in 2005 with his mixtape Trap House, he definitely set the Atlanta streets and later, the nation on fire. Gucci was one of the early pioneers of trap music, helping catapult it into the genre it is today, and co-signing some of Atlanta’s biggest stars to follow, including Young Thug and Migos before his 3-year incarceration in 2014. Today 1017 is an Alamo imprint, he’s married the love of his life Keyshia Ka’oir in a lavish wedding in 2017, and he signed rising star Asian Doll as the first female signee in 2018; although she left the label this year. Like a true Aquarius he’s also original and unique, tattooing an Ice Cream Cone on his face and making the ad lib Brrr a trademark of his music. While some veteran rappers have a lot to say about the direction trap music has taken, Gucci’s remained a supporter of the new generation signing acts like Hoodrich Pablo Juan and Lil’ Wop as well. He’s made his mark as a CEO, actor in Harmony Korine’s 2012 hit Springbreakers and continues to be an artist loved by all.  

Aquariuses

Megan thee Stallion

Logic

J. Cole

Kevin Gates

Lil Mosey

Dr. Dre 

Pisces: Tyler the Creator

Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

Compassionate, artistic, gentle, sad, musical

Tyler the Creator really made waves this year with the release of his acclaimed album IGOR which was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2020 Grammys. Tyler is a multi-disciplinary artist at this point with his fashion designs, Camp Flognaw, elaborate stage sets and costumes. He’s transcended just being a recording artist and moved into performance art with his lush videos as well as aesthetic. The emotion in his latest album IGOR, which describes a love triangle between him, a guy he’s seeing and the guy’s girlfriend are relatable while remaining very Pisces-like. 

Pisces

Lil Bow Wow

Lil Dicky

Molly Brazy

YG 

Earl Sweatshirt

Aries: Quavo

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Confident, enthusiastic, impatient

April 21, 1991 Quavious “Quavo” Marshall was born and he’s kept exhibiting Aries’ traits ever sense. Part of rap trio, Migos, they’re some of Atlanta’s most successful exports with 2 Grammy nominations in addition to having the most simultaneous hits on the Billboard Charts. He’s confident enough to land a baddie like Saweetie, enthusiastic with the ad-libs, and all these traits can come together to create the perfect storm if anyone is not taking him or his music seriously as was demonstrated the Joe Budden beef. 

Aries

Lil Nas X

Big Sean

Chance the Rapper

Young MA

Ty Dolla Sign

Juicy J

Taurus: Travis Scott

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Patient, reliable, devoted, responsible, uncompromising, hard working

Travis Scott’s sound has gone from Platinum Verb to Space Designer right before our eyes and introduced us to Astroworld; an album + festival bigger than music in the past two years. In his first mainstream breakthrough, Days Before Rodeo which was released in 2014, Scott talks about moving to LA and living in an apartment with a bunch of other guys just to get a shot at this music thing. Well it worked out for him in a major way, and now he has Stormi, his adorable daughter, Kylie Jenner as a baby moms, plus much more career success on the way. 

Tauruses

YNW Melly

6ix9ine

Meek Mill

Lizzo

Smokepurpp

Gemini: Kanye West

Kevin Winter/Getty Images 

Curious, adaptable, ability to learn quick, intelligent, impulsive

Who could be more of a Gemini than ‘Ye? He has never waited for any one to help him achieve any of his numerous dreams, from being a designer, to starting his own church (of sorts). Kanye is clearly an intelligent guy, despite any impulsiveness that may find him interjecting in a harsh manner  (think: VMAs) or popping up with some controversial opinions. 

Geminis

Tupac

Trippie Redd

Kendrick Lamar

Takeoff

Cancer: 50 Cent

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Highly imaginative, emotional, moody, persuasive

Honestly, 50 Cent being a Cancer makes the most sense. He burst onto the scene with Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2003. After a long career as a musician, he turned into an entrepreneur and co-producer of hit show Power in addition to keeping us laughing online all the time with his memorable/petty IG beefs. He definitely seems to have his moods. Whether or not you agree with his methods, the man is truly an entertainer and keeps reinventing while simultaneously reimagining ways to stay on top.  

Additional rap Cancers:

Post Malone

Lil Kim

Saweetie

Rich the Kid

Leo: Lil Uzi Vert 

 Steven Ferdman/Getty Images

Creative, passionate, warm-hearted, cheerful, humorous

Lil Uzi is the most Leo Leo there is. Leos love the spotlight and are natural entertainers. Uzi has displayed a natural stage presence full of energy and endless creativity. He’s also a viral trendsetter with the latest hype surrounding his single and dance, “Futsal Shuffle 2020.” His first mixtape Luv is Rage (2015), threw a wrench into the mainstream sound and garnered positive reviews from both the underground and commercial worlds. It also showed his loyalty, including his then-girlfriend Brittany on the album art. His success didn’t stop there and he continued to flaunt his boisterous yet charismatic flow on hits like “Bad & Boujee” as well as his top 10 single “XO Llif3 Tour.” A lot is still in store for Uzi as his fans await the release of his second studio album Eternal Atake.

Leos:

Soulja Boy

Chief Keef

Young Thug

Lil Pump

Lil B

Sagittarius: Jay-Z 

Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

Straight-forward, optimistic, restless, progressive and adventurous

For Sagittarius, Hov is representing the sign well. According to Jay-Z’s mom, Shawn Carter was born December 4th weighing in at 10 pounds 8 ounces and was the only one who didn’t give her any pain during birth. During his life, he’s shown off his progressive Sag trait by becoming one of the greatest rappers of all time as well as a songwriter, entrepreneur and more. His accomplishments are far too numerous to even begin to list here, but the optimism and restlessness of his sign have led him into a power coupledom with Beyoncé, ownership of Tidal, ownership of Armand de Brignac, as well as huge success with his management agency Roc Nation. From the beginning with his debut 1996 album Reasonable Doubt, he’s had the music industry on lock. 

Sagittariuses

Nicki Minaj

Juice Wrld

Offset

A Boogie wit Da Hoodie

Asian Doll

Scorpio: Drake 

Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Secretive, passionate, calculating, brooding, ambitious, sexual

Drizzy Drake will be a Scorpio legend for a long time with over a decade of steady hits. He’s managed to become the voice of at least two generations from his time acting on Degrassi as a teenager, to his transition to rap in the late 2000s/2010s. Not only has Drake put Canada on the map and opened the door for the talent coming out of Toronto like The Weeknd, PartyNextDoor, Nav, Rochelle Jordan, Majiid Jordan etc. he’s taken the country across the world on multiple excessive tours. His Scorpio nature is all over his songs from the moody production, to the trust issues displayed in his lyrics.

Scorpios:

Tyga

Future

NLE Choppa

Lil  Peep

Lil Boosie

Virgo: Beyoncé 

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Loyal, analytical, kind, hardworking, practical, shy

We had to veer from the rapper-led course because Queen Bey has proved to us that she can flow with the best of them on tracks like “APESHIT,” from her 2018 collaborative album Everything is Love. A true performer in every sense, Beyoncé is also a hardworking and a perfectionist just like a Virgo. Her stage sets are legendary and her dance skills have been popping since she was little in one of her first groups Girls Tyme. Her Virgo loyalty is on full display with longtime bae Jay-Z (they’ve been dating publicly since 2004 and married since 2008). Just like Jay, she has too many accomplishments to list including headlining an unforgettable Coachella two weeks in a row after giving birth to twins and making a documentary about it in 2018. Her release Lemonade, an hour long video album and special that debuted at #1 on Billboard in 2016 with no promo was also a milestone. All in all, Beyoncé is Queen of the Virgos and we’re here to pay homage. 

Virgos:

Lil Yachty

Wiz Khalifa

Eazy-E

Playboi Carti

Nas

Libra: 21 Savage

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Diplomatic, artistic, intelligent, fair, understanding

21 Savage was rapping for approximately 1 year before the release of his 2015 breakthrough, Slaughtertape. Savage Mode with Metro Boomin’ was the primary put on, but he’s kept the balance like a true Libra ever since. Libras are known for their intelligence and 21 is no different. After a few years in the spotlight, he stopped buying jewelry to “save money… and increase his own wealth.” As far as diplomacy goes, 21 is a great example. Any minor beef that has arisen he actively takes steps to diffuse, like with Layzie Bone. He reached out and apologized before it went to far. In love, like a true Libra, he likes to spoil and be spoiled. His long and well-documented affair with Amber Rose was full of gifts including matching iced out watches. Clearly this was before the jewelry fast. Love can make you do crazy things. Currently, 21 is back in the US after an ordeal with immigration and made the Forbes 30 under 30 list in December. 2020 seems to have a lot in store for him. 

Additional rap Libras:

Lil’ Wayne

Cardi B

Eminem

NBA Youngboy

Snoop Dogg

Capricorn: DaBaby 

Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Ambitious, persistent, sensitive, practical, disciplined, DIY

DaBaby has had enough of a year to be the Capricorn Rap Representative. He went viral when he brought the Jabbawockees back, has been touring persistently and talks openly about how he engineered his come-up with DIY marketing methods like wearing a diaper at SXSW and using a street team. Capricorns don’t put their sensitivity on display but after a well-received interview came out with his baby mama where she had only great things to say about his role as a father, we know he’s got a soft side like any true Cap.

Capricorns:

Mac Miller

Miss Mulatto

Polo G

Joey Badass

Blueface

The annual Pre-Grammys Roc Nation Brunch was held on Saturday afternoon as per usual, and the event boasted some pretty huge stars and some pretty big surprises. One attendee fell into both of those categories, as Ms. Rihanna herself decided to make an appearance at the lavish gathering, gracing the industry's elite with her increasingly rare presence. As we know, Rih has become known more as a makeup and fashion mogul than a musician these days, so her sighting at one of the music industry's biggest events of the year was a shock to many unknowing fans. While Rih smiled and posed happily with the likes of T.I., Megan Thee Stallion, and DJ Khaled, the Bad Gal seemed less than thrilled to bump into one individual in particular: Jim Jones' fiancée and Love & Hip Hop star, Chrissy Lampkin.

It appears that Drake is paying a visit to his hometown of Toronto this week, and he certainly seems to be enjoying himself. The Canada-native shared some footage on his IG story on Thursday of his gorgeous mansion, including some shots of his NBA Regulation-sized basketball court. The rapper gave us a little peek at the OVO-emblazoned court, filming from above through a skylight on his roof. Drake, who is basically the Toronto Raptors’ personal cheerleader, displayed his own skills on the court as he proceeded to sink a shot from a tiered second story in the next clip. 

Drake spent a solid $6.7 million on the 35,000 square-foot mansion, which he had built late last year after purchasing the two-acre property in 2015 in the city’s Bridle Path neighbourhood. Designer Ferris Rafauli completed the customized home, and after visiting Drake at his mansion, DJ Khaled was so impressed that he enlisted Ferris to build his next estate. Along with the massive court, Drizzy’s new home features a lavish lounge area, a grand kitchen with a marble island, a 10-car garage, and his own awards room. Drake had to seek approval from the city of Toronto in order to build fences twice the regulated height for privacy purposes, and he reportedly dropped $1 million on 20-foot trees to line the fence.

Less  than two weeks after shooting down rumors that he planned to compete in the 2020 NBA Dunk Contest, Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard has confirmed that "Superman" is, in fact, making a come back. 

Howard, 34, headlined some of the most memorable Dunk Contest competitions against Nate Robinson during a three-year run from 2007-09, including a championship in 2008.

After letting her fans know that she would be taking it easy in 2020, Summer Walker is focusing on her personal life, which includes her relationship with producer London On Da Track, and the management of her social anxiety, which has affected so many of her performances. In person, the rising star isn’t too down to do interviews or anything that would trigger her to become uncomfortable. However, she doesn’t hold back online. On social media, she often works to further her brand by revealing layers of her personality to all of her supporters. This morning, she switched things up by showing off some skin, which she doesn’t regularly do, uploading a series of “Players Club Vibes” to her page.

Complementing a shot she shared last night of her exposing her underboob in a revealing crop top, Summer Walker returned with a trio of sultry pictures in a lavish black dress and oodles of icy jewelry. Diamonds dance on her neck, wrist, and digits, with the artist feeling herself in the display and confirming that she is still spending time with LODT. A few days ago, the rumor mill kicked off with reports that they may have broken up after Walker shared a cryptic post that people assumed was about the producer. London appears in her latest images so she’s definitely gone and cleared that one up.

What do you think of Summer Walker? Are you messing with her music? 

Now that their romance has been confirmed, Future is enjoying sharing photos of his lady Lori Harvey. The pair have made headlines for months over their rumored relationship, but after the rapper apparently went above and beyond for Lori’s destination birthday party, the happy couple is sharing their love with the world.

Lori and a couple dozen of her loved ones descended on Jamaica for her birthday celebrations that included a luxury mansion and an elaborate party. The 23-year-old hasn’t ceased in sharing images and videos from her bikini-heavy lavish vacation as she struck model poses alongside her friends Normani, Ryan Destiny, Taina Williams, and Jordyn Woods. 

Lori couldn’t help but show off a few more hot shots from Jamaica over on her Instagram Story. After she wished stepdad Steve Harvey a happy birthday, Lori uploaded two more images of herself with her friends in bikinis. Then she added another that showed her in a cave, a photo that she wrote was taken immediately after she went cliff-diving. 

Future publicly admired Lori’s physique and reposted the photo over on his Instagram with the words, “Thank u god.” He added a red heart emoji to let everyone know just how thankful he truly is. Check out the photo below with a few more sexy poses from Lori and her girls.

Memphis Grizzlies rookie point guard Ja Morant has captivated the league in the first half of the season with his dazzling ball-handling skills, sensational passes and rim-rocking dunks. Morant's explosive athleticism and extraordinary leaping ability made him a prime candidate to participate in the 2020 Slam Dunk Contest next month, but unfortunately fans will just have to settle for his in-game jams.

According to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, the 20-year old guard has decided not to participate and will instead focus on "maintaining good health for the duration of the season." That said, Morant hasn't ruled out competing in future contests.

Future and Lori Harvey are flaunting their love all over social media, which is allowing gossip generals to breathe a major sigh of relief after they had been rumored to be dating for weeks. Bringing her on a lavish vacation for her birthday, Future is spoiling the hell out of Lori and the two have become quite the trending topic on social media and the rest of the internet. People want to know what's happening between the two lovebirds, wondering if they'll last or if this is just a fling for them. After moving on from Diddy and a short fling with Trey Songz, Lori Harvey has been both criticized and celebrated for her romantic history. The Game may not be referring to her and Future directly but he is critical of how rappers are "passing around" the same models, remarking so on his Twitter page.

Logging onto social media, The Game had something to get off his chest and some fans think he may be subliminally speaking about Future and Lori Harvey. That's pure speculation for now but, as you know, the internet loves to hop onto theories, twisting them until they become but a tangled web of confusing information and unconfirmed reports. The message in question reads: "N***as out here trading girlfriends like baseball cards *coughs*."

As you can see, Game doesn't mention anybody by name but, if the shoe fits, wear it. People are pointing out how the timing is suspect, noting that both Future and Harvey have been around quite a bit so this could certainly apply to them. Do you think it was laced in shade?

There’s something to be said about an impeccable flow. The ability to navigate uncharted pockets and become one with an instrumental. For many of the most technically proficient rappers, flow serves as a defining characteristic. A means of establishing individuality, even if one rapper covers similar thematic territory as another. Though some recognizable flows have become commonplace, the true artisans have developed their own through years of experimentation. And yet, what about that old adage: is two really better than one?

There’s something special about a well-structured Back and Forth. Everyone has likely heard one song in which two artists share the load, trading bars as if driven by a singular mind. Think of all the timeless classics, from Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg’s “Dre Day” to Big Pun and Fat Joe‘s “Twinz.” Only the most well-established duos can pull it off; not unlike a barber offering a straight razor shave, trust must first be built. Of course, there are exceptions. We recently saw Anderson .Paak and YBN Cordae employ the practice with cavalier swagger on “RNP,” a lead single off Cordae’s 2019 debut The Lost Boy. Despite having never worked with one another prior, “RNP” was instantly fueled by a “big brother/little brother” vibe, its back-and-forth structure enhancing the song’s playful nature. For the most part, however, only the tried and true camarades opt to go back and forth. And while uninhibited technical prowess tends to take a backseat, the sheer spectacle of two artists trading bars ultimately makes up for it. 

Phil McCarten/Getty Images

For many, the benchmark back and forth duo has to be Jadakiss and Styles P. Their seminal work and magnum opus is the Alchemist-produced “We Gon Make It,” a classic single off 2001’s Kiss Tha Game Goodbye. It’s unclear how the pair pieced this one together, but it’s evident that the writing of these verses was highly collaborative. Lines flow into one another masterfully, each emcee’s personality shining through. “Real n*** say that they be wilding, we on the Cayman Islands on a yacht with our favorite albums,” raps Styles, setting up the scheme. “A bad ho and a plate of salmon, smoking and drinking, n*** is you thinking that our fate is violent?” tags in Jada, closing the rhyme out both internally and externally. The pair would soon make the back-and-forth a habit, setting the pace for Fabolous’ “Keepin It Gangsta Remix,” and carrying on the tradition with Kiss Of Death’s anthemic “Shoot Outs.” 

In keeping with New York tradition, another legendary duo who engaged in the practice were none other than Ghostface Killah and Raekwon The Chef. Though the Wu-Tang lyricists had established themselves as kindred spirits and harmonious collaborators on Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… & Ironman, they seldom arranged verses in such an intimate fashion. On Mobb Deep’s grimy classic The Infamous, Ghost and Rae shared a sixteen, delivering lines as a well-oiled machine. “You know what’s out there, thousands of grams wrapped in Saran / sealed tight, keep the freshness,” sets up Rae, only to be concluded by Ghost’s “that’s how we expand.” The beauty of this hard, albeit brief verse, is that you know it was crafted in the studio; how they decided who spits which line remains a mystery, but there’s something refreshing about such a blue-collar creative process.

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Unlike the former two New York classics, The Firm’s “Phone Tap” employs back and forth bar trading to accomplish a different goal. Over brooding Dr. Dre production, Nas and AZ’s cult classic find them operating two distinct roles having a real-time discussion with one another. The simulation of a conversation makes a back and forth structure necessary, creating an immersive and cinematic experience befitting of the song’s criminology themes. They’re not merely adding emphasis to punchlines or segueing in new flow-schemes, but propelling a narrative forward complete with individual character arcs. For that reason, they’re allotted more space to move, spitting miniature verses and responding to one another with fleshed out answers. Though not quite as prolific as some hip-hop duos, Nas and AZ have amassed one hell of a joint catalog; perhaps that’s why “Phone Tap” stands as a crowning achievement in mafioso rap. 

A back and forth can also be the perfect means of celebrating your favorite wingman. Look no further than Busta Rhymes and P. Diddy’s lavish and obnoxiously opulent “Pass The Courvoisier” series, a pair of Neptunes-produced bangers circa 2001. The first part was far more frantic, with Busta’s signature “dungeon dragon” energy juxtaposing nicely with Diddy’s dangerously cool swagger. In keeping with tradition, Busta and Diddy weave in and out as the scheme demands, particularly in the song’s second verse. “They call me Mr. Diddy, the boss, you know me, the only G to willy a Porsche,” boasts Diddy, as Busta closes out declaring “we get dough in all land the size of Philly, of course.” On their second go-around, Busta relaxes a bit to meet Puff’s energy, culminating in a sequel that’s at once seductive and classy, an arguable triumph over the first. Despite any potential differences in net worth or technical prowess, in the context of “Pass The Courvoisier Part 2,” Busta and Diddy stand on equal footing.

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In a modern-day setting, the TDE camp is no stranger to the back and forth. ScHoolboy Q and A$AP Rocky have traded lines on “Brand New Guy,” and the entirety of “Vice City” seems to be an exercise in collaborative penmanship. Reason even brought a bit of that sauce to the Dreamville camp with his triumphant turn on the darkly comedic Cozz duet “Lambo Truck.” Yet perhaps the hardest-hitting Top Dawg back and forth banger arrived on Jay Rock’s 90059 by way of “Easy Bake.” Given the superstar that Kendrick Lamar has become, it’s hard to imagine him as anything other than a larger than life leader. But once upon a time young Kenny occupied the position of Jay Rock’s symbolic little brother, a protege of sorts to the buzzing Watts rapper. It’s only made sense to honor the dynamic on “Easy Bake,” as Rock and Dot trade verses a la Jada and Styles, setting each other up with line after line; Rock busts them, Kenny punishes em’. The fact this two-headed verse feels like such a far cry from Kendrick’s solo material makes this one all the more special, a time-honored tradition stemming from a deep-rooted pre-fame dynamic. 

It would be foolish to ignore the work of Royce Da 5’9” and Eminem, known collectively as Bad Meets Evil. No more is their madcap chemistry more evidence than on the outlandishly depraved lullaby “A Kiss” off 2011’s Bad Meets Evil: Hell The Sequel. Speaking with Royce, he explained how he and Em approach each song with a competitive spirit: “We challenge each other with the back and forth shit,” he told me. “He’ll go in, do a certain amount of bars, and stop. We try to finish connecting each other’s syllables to continue the scheme.” Deep though their catalog may be, “A Kiss” exemplifies that character on a variety of levels. Not only is it a constant spree of hilarious one-upmanship, but a testament to their similarly structured minds; well-matched in gallows humor and better matched in technical prowess. Their chemistry is best revealed on the song’s latter half, with both parties effortlessly baton-passing over a Bangladesh banger. “What a demon, a behemoth evil just seems to be seething through him,” spits Em, only for Royce to continue the scheme with “I like the little strip tease you doing.”

To comb through all of hip-hop’s classic back and forth bangers would be a Herculean, albeit highly enjoyable task. In essence, the art of bar-trading best serves as a validator of chemistry, a tangible expression of camaraderie on wax. It’s no surprise that only trusted collaborators tend to attempt the practice, as the writing process likely requires the presence of both body and mind. In other words, what might be a highly introverted process becomes a collaborative one. And yet the results tend to speak for themselves, with back and forth verses proving to be crowd-pleasers damn near every time. Which one is your favorite? 

If you liked this, check out:

The Art Of The Dark Banger

The Top 50 Best Flows Of All Time

Album Number Seven: Examining The Lucky Number

Masters Of Cadence: The Art Of Voice In Hip-Hop

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At this point in his career, Drake can afford just about anything he could possibly want. While financial wealth isn't the end goal for all recording artists, it certainly is a motivator for the majority of rappers. People see the flexing that occurs on social media and they think to themselves: "if I perfected my skills as a rapper, maybe I could get this rich?" The reality of the situation is that most people will never get to Drake's level of success. The Canadian artist has calculated his rise to superstardom for years, taking advantage of certain situations and screwing his head on tight for a long ride. We've seen glimpses of the interior of Drake's lavish Toronto mansion in the past and today, he felt like showing off a number of high-ticket collectables that he's got laying around the crib. Some of them are so special that a price can't even be estimated for them.

It’s obvious that Ciara and Russell Wilson can’t get enough of each other. The husband and wife duo often take to their social media pages to share loving pictures and videos of their adorable home life, and they never spare an opportunity to pen sweet notes about their love for one another. They celebrate each other’s wins and encourage one another when there are losses, and Ciara exercised the latter on Monday following the NFL star’s Playoffs exit.

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The Seattle Seahawks quarterback is being hailed for his performance during the team’s final game of the season even though they lost to the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks went from being down 21-3 to recovering to 28-23 with the help of a strong-willed Wilson. Ciara lavished compliments on her husband on Instagram where she reminded people just how talented, skilled, and accomplished Wilson is, regardless of whether or not he wins or loses.

“My Warrior ❤️. As always so so proud of you. You put it all on the line every time. That’s in all that you do!” the singer wrote. “You’ve made 7 Post Seasons of your 8 Seasons, 7 Pro Bowls of those 8, and All Pro this year.. not including all your other amazing stats ?. You truly are a rare breed. Most of them all, you’re 10 for 10 with loving me and our babies with your all! Grateful to witness your Greatness on and off the field! It’s just the beginning. So excited for what’s ahead. Love you so much.” Check it out below.

It’s been a minute, but the Griselda movement has finally mobilized. Not long after Westside Gunn secured himself a shiny new passport, the Buffalo-bred trifecta officially announced a slew of North American tour dates. Spanning across ten stops and a variety of well-spaced out dates, the official What Would Chine Gun Do tour has all the makings of a lavish and exclusive affair. Check out the full list of dates below, beginning with a mid-February launch date in Atlanta.

If you’re interested in copping tickets to any of the dates, head over to the official Griselda website and purchase to your heart’s content. While this is definitely a promising start, we can only hope a new batch of dates emerges in the near future. We already know Westside, Conway, and Benny are looking to solidify their chokehold on the game, and what better way than to shut shit down in a live capacity?

“I don’t even have to explain myself anymore get your fuckin tickets!!!!!! This is a Movie, This is an experience, This is HISTORY,” writes Gunn, in the official IG announcement. Is Griselda rolling through a city near you? If so, sound off in the comments. 

Feb 16th – Atlanta GA, Masquerade Heaven
Feb 20th – Boston MA, Paradise
Feb 21st – Hartford CT, The Webster
Feb 22nd – Providence, RI, The Strand
Feb 23rd – Baltimore MD – Soundstage
Feb 26th – Detroit MI, St. Andrews
Feb 28th – Chicago IL, Patio Theater 
Feb 29th – Minneapolis MN, Varsity
Mar 5th – Denver CO, Summit
Mar 6th – Los Angeles CA, The Novo

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Imagine being Halle Berry’s personal photographer. What a job that would be. The 53-year-old actress continuously shifts attention her way with a single snap of the camera, uploading the most divine thirst traps known to mankind. Throughout her half-century spent on this planet, Berry has always been known in the public as one of the most talented actors in the world. She’s also praised for being one of the most beautiful women to ever breathe air. Things haven’t come easy for her though. With a mix of gruelling workouts on a regular basis, Halle Berry maintains her sculpted figure so that she can always wow us with her pictures on social media. Last night, she came through with her latest: a shot showing her in a gorgeous garden wearing nearly nothing and showing off a glimpse of her backside.

Unlike you and me, when Halle Berry feels like getting a breath of fresh air, she does so by heading out into the fields of her lavish mansion wearing next to nothing, feeling the wind on her skin and teasing the men and women who frequent her online profiles for solely thirst-filled purposes. Berry flexed her toned back and allowed the natural landscape to protect her modesty, covering up her booty and offering only the slightest of teases.

If you’ve been craving more Halle Berry in your life, it’s your lucky day. Peep the post below.

Dwight Howard may not be returning to the Dunk Contest after all. Earlier this week, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Howard was a confirmed entrant in the 2020 Dunk Contest, but the veteran center denied that report (albeit with a smile) following Tuesday's win over the New York Knicks.

"Who told you that? I never said anything about a dunk contest. My dunk contest is before the games. I don't know where that came from." Howard added, "I just want to win a championship." 

Check out Dwight's comments about his rumored return to the Dunk Contest below.

The NBA's All-Star festivities are on the horizon and we're slowly but surely learning more about the All-Star Saturday Night participants. For instance, just yesterday it was reported that both Dwight Howard and Derrick Jones Jr. have agreed to take part in the Slam Dunk Contest, while two-time champion Zach LaVine and Grizzlies rookie Ja Morant are considering accepting their invitation.

On Tuesday, Shams Charania revealed Detroit Pistons point guard Derrick Rose as the first participant in the Skills Competition, which will also take place on Saturday, February 15. 

If the theme ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Ever since they linked up to deliver What A Time To Be Alive in 2015, Drake and Future have been steadily laying the groundwork for a sequel to the bombastic album. Granted, the first one wasn’t all that deep, with both parties essentially reveling in their lavish lifestyles, finding common ground in materialism and the occasional moment of indulgence. Luckily, they did so over crisp production with their respective charisma meters teetering on high. For that reason many still look back fondly on WATTBA, and would not only accept a sequel but actively anticipate it.

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Luckily, all signs point to some new WATTBA2 developments in 2020. After months of teasing the sequel’s existence, including a few behind-the-scenes shots of an upcoming video shoot, Drizzy has officially given the public something to work with. Taking to IG, Drake shared a story of a still from “Life Is Good,” a new video from himself and Future. To be fair, it’s unclear whether the single is set to be one chapter of a greater whole or a standalone piece — either way, it’s something to look forward to.

Judging from the title, which calls back to Nas‘ album of the same name, it seems as if the celebration of life will remain the primary theme our heroes choose to explore. Given all the fancy new toys Drake has procured since the first go-around –an OVO jet, a custom basketball court, and so on– Future certainly has his work cut out for him in this bout of healthy competition. Check out the story while you still can. 

As celebrities were drawing in the new year at lavish parties or nightclubs with entourages in tow as they ordered expensive bottles of premium champagne for the midnight toast, The Game decided to go a different route. The Born To Rap artist opted for a more snowy, wintery aesthetic for the new year as he and his loved ones enjoyed the Colorado scenery from a luxury cabin in Aspen.

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The elite city is a favorite for the rich and famous who delight in the finer things in life. Game shared photos of himself enjoying little Mary Jane on the deck of the cabin while tequila-laced gumbo was brewing in the kitchen. The rapper shared a few photos and video clips on his Instagram and Instagram Story along with a few thoughtful captions.

“Reflection. So many beautiful people lost in 2019…… so many lessons learned…. so much to still accomplish,” Game penned. “One is forced to keep moving in a direction of self elevation. The inevitable is what it is, now let’s push #2020vision.” In another post, he added, “Live. Laugh. Love. Repeat !!! #2020vision.” Check out a few of Game’s snow-blanketed pictures from his Aspen vacation below.