Eminem has been oddly more interactive with the world in recent times. Perhaps it's the need for change or management demanding that he hop on TikTok but either way, he's giving fans a bit more insight into his otherwise private life.

At the wee hours of the morning, the rapper seemingly stumbled upon a video from No Life Shaq where the YouTuber DM'd several rappers requesting their pick for the greatest rapper of all time. Among the rappers that he DM'd is 6ix9ine, Travis Scott, Lil Wayne, and more, as well as Eminem. No Life Shaq admitted that he didn't expect Eminem to respond, though he said that was the only rapper he was eager to hear a response from.

"I had to try with Em. I had to try with Em. Of course, Em not gonna respond," he said. "That one kinda hurt my heart a lil bit because I wanted Em to say himself."

Though he never got a response on Instagram, Eminem did issue a response on Twitter with a list of rappers he'd consider GOATs but suffice to say the inclusion of Redman twice probably confirms that his position on the Def Squad member hasn't changed. 

"For me, in no particular order... Toss up between wayne, pac, royce, jay, redman, treach, g. rap, biggie & king crook....," he wrote in one tweet. "Plus redman, LL, nas, joyner, kendrick, cole, andre, rakim, kane..."

Check out the tweets below. 

Kobe Bryant is undeniably one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA. Unfortunately, Bryant passed away almost four months ago in a tragic helicopter accident that claimed the life of his daughter and seven others. Since then, numerous NBA players have posted tributes in Kobe’s honor and it has become abundantly clear that Bryant’s legacy will live on well past this current generation of players.

Just yesterday, Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson took to Instagram with a small tribute to Kobe. As you can see from the post below, Thompson reminisced about a Kobe skills camp he got to attend while he was in high school. In the post, Thompson makes sure to let people know that Kobe is the greatest of all time.

“One of the greatest experiences of my life was being able to participate in the goats ? skills academy back in HS,” Thompson wrote. “I was so star struck the whole time and couldn’t believe I was on the same hardwood as Bean.”

Clearly, the skills camp worked out quite well for Thompson as he has blossomed into one of the best shooters in the NBA. Kobe would certainly be proud to see him on the court right now.

Polo G is one of the hottest new rappers out, ever since his “Pop Out” single with Lil Tjay went viral and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100. The rapper hasn’t slowed down since, capitalizing on his virality with his debut album, Die a Legend, in June 2019. The album was outstanding, resulting in critical acclaim as well as streams– it peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200. The album was further propelled by the strength of singles like “Dyin Breed,” “Battle Cry” and “Finer Things.”

Recently, Polo G delivered a new single, “DND,” and now he’s followed that up with word of his sophomore album. The rapper clearly hasn’t taken too much time off in between projects, or perhaps he’s taken full advantage of the quarantine lockdown by recording — either way, fans should be pleased to find out he has a brand new album arriving on May 15th. The album is titled The GOAT, which is probably not too surprising given the title of his debut album. Polo G clearly has big plans for himself, and he seems to be on the right track.

The new album is set to feature the “DND” record, as well as recent collab Polo did with Stunna 4 Vegas and NLE CHoppa titled “Go Stupid.” Polo G shared the news on his Instagram, unveiling the album artwork which you can see below.

There has always been a huge rivalry between the likes of Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan. The Bad Boy Pistons dominated MJ’s Bulls back in the 80s and as we all know by now, Jordan absolutely despised them. In fact, Jordan made sure Thomas didn’t get a spot on the Dream Team back in 1992, simply Thomas beat him so many times.

In a recent interview, Thomas spoke about Jordan and whether or not he could truly be called the GOAT. As Thomas explains, there are multiple players with Jordan’s athleticism in the NBA right now and that if you were to put LeBron James and Kevin Durant in the 80s, they would probably be just as, if not more dominant. 

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

“I think this generation [of players] is not getting enough credit for what they’re doing,” Thomas said. “Because the athletes that are in this generation are so far superior than what was in my generation. [When we were playing], Jordan was the best athlete that we had ever seen, [but] from an athletic standpoint, there are like 10 or 11 guys in the NBA right now with Jordan’s athleticism. We didn’t have that back then. With what [Kevin Durant] and LeBron are doing, if you put them back in the era of the ’80s, with their talent, their athleticism and their skill, who’s the GOAT?”

Thomas’s comments will certainly cause some debate in the comments section amongst LeBron and MJ stans. Regardless, it’s important to remember that we should just be happy to recognize greatness as opposed to harping on comparisons.

[Via]

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.”

Denise Truscello/Getty Images 

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.

Maury Phillips/FilmMagic/Getty Images

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. 

Back in December, Westside Gunn received criticism after saying in a RapRadar interview that Griselda’s (Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, Conway) output in 2019 went slightly overlooked, even though Dreamville or TDE would have been praised for being as prolific as the Buffalo-bred collective. He clarified that he has deep respect for those labels for anyone who was misinterpreting his initial statement. While Westside Gunn may have eased up on the self-appraisal to avoid offending any fans of those other rap crews, he has now ditched any pretence of humility. He believes Griselda has made some of the most important cultural contributions in hip hop history and he will keep shouting it from the rooftops. 

He posted a collage of Griselda album covers on Instagram and wrote:

“GRISELDA has the best Catalogue in HIP HOP HISTORY!!!!! IDC who u name and I respect EVERYBODY the OGs the Pioneers, the ones who even inspired US but the FAKTS is the FAKTS idk when y’all wanna start giving US our roses but this shit is CULTURE, whoever u name catalog not even this deep and this powerful we can debate all u want but don’t try and name somebody wit 3 strong albums and that’s it YOU must not be seeing the same picture I’m seeing and that’s Why I’m the [goat emoji] it’s not bc I’m the best rapper idgaf about that it’s about what I’m doing for the Culture as a whole FASHION,ART,WRESTLING ontop of Still making Projects that can run with ANYTHING it won’t be ever done again we’re living in modern day History.”

Westside Gunn has teased that he has a project titled Pray For Paris and another project with Madlib lined up for 2020. 

Washington Wizards’ rookie Rui Hachimura has landed yet another big time endorsement deal, adding to his partnerships with Jordan Brand, G-Shock and Japanese food brand Nissin. Today, GOAT announced details of their deal with Hachimura, which will see the 22-year old forward repping highly coveted sneakers and gear provided by the platform both on and off the court throughout the season, as well as the lead up to the 2020 Olympics.

“Being a part of the GOAT family is very exciting,” said Rui Hachimura. “I grew up watching basketball and have been a fan of sneakers since I was a kid. GOAT not only gives me access to new releases, but also sneakers from the past – sneakers that I wasn’t able to get as a kid. I’m looking forward to elevating my collection over the next few years to show off my style.”

Via GOAT

The two year partnership underlines the continuation of GOAT’s athlete partnerships, which kicked off in 2018 with Los Angeles Lakers’ forward Kyle Kuzma. As part of the deal, GOAT will work with Jordan Brand to align special sneakers for Rui.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Rui as his passion and talent exemplify greatness on and off the court. This partnership will allow us to further connect with our global community of basketball and sneaker fans,” said Eddy Lu, co-founder and CEO of GOAT Group. “In addition to being one of the most promising rookies, Rui’s influence in Japan and greater Asia Pacific is massive. We look forward to supporting him on a global scale.”

Through his first 28 NBA games, Hachimura is averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds per night.

In this series, we’ll be making the case for specific rappers to be included in “greatest of all-time” discussions. The more obvious choices (such as André 3000, Lil Wayne, Eminem, Jay-Z, Nas, Biggie, 2Pac) will be ignored in favor of artists who tend to get overlooked these days, for one reason or another. Previously, our writers have made cases for Pusha T, Ice Cube, DJ Quik, Big Boi, DMX, Ghostface Killah and Busta Rhymes. Today, we’re bringing back the series to pay homage to Slug.

Atmosphere is a rare commodity in hip-hop. Even in our current era when there is generally more of everything. Even with the oversaturation of hip-hop artists, we’re somehow pretty slim on duos — especially when it comes to duo such as Slug and Ant, where truly, each one plays a distinct role. Slug raps. Ant produces. And that’s it. It’s not to say that this is what makes them avant garde, it’s simply a discernable feature.

For the purpose of this argument we will focus solely on Slug. Slug, born Sean Michael Daley in Minneapolis, Minnesota has done more for hip-hop than your average pop-leaning rap fan might have you believe. Slug managed to put Minneapolis on the Rap Map way before it was a thing you could do “at your fingertips”– before the Internet at large could break down geographical borders and spread music instantly. His was the type of grassroots push that goes unseen in modern times. 

Slug debuted alongside his then-group-collaborator Spawn with the album Overcast! in 1997. While it’s an album he’s gone on to criticize in later years, it’s important nonetheless. By Slug’s own estimation he was trying too hard– but really, what’s wrong with that? For all intents and purposes, Slug is mostly trying to be lyrical, trying to paint a picture, create a scene in the mind’s eye. In the process he was getting more cerebral than many of his mainstream contemporaries.

That is one of the ways that Slug exhibits his GOAT status. It’s the details he puts into his rhymes and his mastery of the English language– he creates allegories and metaphors on a wider scale than the context of two bars (think: “Lucy Ford”), which offer a constant throughline in much of his music. There are certain metaphors or elements that recur in Atmosphere’s music, and each time, Slug offers the listener another piece of the puzzle. 

On a song like “Sound Is Vibration” from the debut, the poetic and introspective touch that many of his songs are known for is on full display. The song begins with fairytale-esque chimes while Slug’s lyrics add to the feeling: “I’m sparked, waiting for the dark to hit / Cause once the moon gets above my apartment / I catch fits for starting shit”— his own intonation rising with each bar as the beat picks up fervor. 

On his underground hit off the same album, “Scapegoat,” Slug details the ails of society in a templated manner with a minimal piano-key-driven beat backing his effort. The concept doesn’t make the song any less impactful, yet Slug has been particularly critical of his songwriting: “While it did get us booked on mix shows across the country, I felt it was almost a ‘cheating’ style of writing. I use the word ‘It’s’ over 50 times. That’s the hook. It’s cheating.” Though slightly masochistic in nature, his constant self-critique and analysis has ultimately allowed for his artistic growth and improvement in the creation of songs that offer more depth and variation than “Scapegoat.” 

Slug takes the road less travelled when it comes to creating rap music. He’s been able to connect with his fanbase so deeply because he truly reveals himself and his person in a way that a lot of rappers simply don’t. He’s also distanced himself from some of the rather superficial yet all-too-common tropes, including those centered around materialism. These factors have not only set him apart and created a cult-like following for the underground artist, but they’ve been instrumental in building his independent label, Rhymesayers– and again, let’s be clear that Rhymesayers was founded as an independent label way before (the year was 1995) it became the trend du-jour. It’s also a feat that comes without the major label distribution too, a sort of loop-hole we seem to find many “indie” labels doing these days. 

As far as the depth instilled in Slug’s pen, one of the prevalent metaphors in Slug’s music was this idea of Lucy Ford, or Lucifer— sometimes thought to be referring to hip-hop itself, other times his vices such as alcohol, or else, the mother of Slug’s child. This theme was woven through out the duo’s discography, from EPs to Atmosphere’s second studio album, God Loves Ugly, with the song “F’@k You Lucy”:

Most of this garbage I write that these people seem to like 

Is about you and how I let you infect my life 

And if they got to know you, I doubt that they would see it 

They’d wonder what I showed you, how you could leave it 

A friend in Chicago said that I should stay persistent 

If I stay around I’m bound to break resistance 

Fuck you, Lucy, for defining my existence 

Fuck you and your differences 

Ever since I was a young lad with a part-time dad 

It was hard to find happiness inside of what I had 

I studied my mother, I digested her pain 

And vowed no women on my path would have to walk the same

Whereas someone like Eminem might be a wizard with internal rhyming and lyrical acrobatics, one of Slug’s best writing qualities is the artful and purposeful nature behind his lyrics. Slug doesn’t just put two bars together and move on to the next two, with ideas unrelated (and this comes back to his own self-affirmed idea that, at the time, he was not just rapping “to string words together.”). Each bar helps to bring a larger picture and a personal affectation into view. His penchant for constant self-reflection (as well as self-deprecation) inevitably leads to growth, too, with the development of his family life coming to affect how he viewed his lyrics in retrospect. Slug was about that Dad Rap life before Kanye West did it. If we’re tracing the lineage, it may go back to just around/after When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (2008). The album that followed would be Family Sign (2011), the album that began to clearly mark a new era in Atmosphere’s music.

Before Slug became the Family Man he is today, he was battling demons like the rest of us– and they’re the usual suspects too– alcohol, depression, cigarettes, weed, himself, women. All of these vices fueled his early music and created some of the darkest, yet most relatable, music he’s released. On a song like “Bird Sings Why Caged I Know” the rapper adopts themes from Maya Angelou (who else??), over a haunting and impactful soul-riddled beat from Ant. It’s here we can really see Slug’s unique writing style — it’s conceptual and rife with interpretation.

It’s the bird, it must have been the bird

Disgusting critter, it must

We should have known better than to trust

This disease-infested ball of lust and carnage

Piece of garbage with wings and she has the guts to sing

Get the bird, catch her, shoot her, I don’t care

Get the bird, bring her down to the ground from out the air

Got to tear her apart, let me at her first

Sink her to the level of the rest of us that inhabit the earth

We can’t end a piece like this without highlighting the fan-favourite and perhaps Atmosphere “piece de resistance”, the album namesake “God Loves Ugly.” On the title track of the album, the rapper singles out his failings as a man and as an artist, and he offers them to the listener shame-free.

I wear my scars like the rings on a pimp

I live life like the captain of a sinking ship

The one thing that I can guarantee

I’m like a stepping razor, I suggest you stay fair with me

Been paying dues for a decade plus

Before that I was just another face on the bus

Tappin’ my foot, to the beat on the radio

Dreaming ’bout the mic and the money and the ladies

Oh mom, I promise I’m gonna be large

Some day I’ma stop trying to borrow your car

Gonna go far, with charisma and skill

Until they put my face on a million dollar bill

Atmosphere, it’s just a ten letter word

Discretion is the name of my cement-feathered bird

And if you didn’t hear, then fuck what others heard

Bars like “Discretion is the name of my cement-feathered bird” are among Slug’s defining lyrical features, in the sense that they sound cool as fuck on surface level, but they also require some unpacking. It’s the perfect example of how Slug’s lyrics are often the intersection between art and personal life and the crises therein. It’s lofty for the average rapper, yet for Slug, it might be a throw-away bar. It’s exactly this type of writing, though, that has proven Slug’s GOAT status as an MC constantly throughout his career, and why his flowers are due.

When it's all said and done in J. Cole's illustrious career, he has a chance to be considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. He's certainly in the conversation right now but, considering the feats that people like Jay-Z, Nas, and others have accomplished, he still has some room to become an even more powerful star. With a possible album in the works for a release later this year, The Fall Off may cement the North Carolina native's legacy as a world-class spitter. His fans will throw his name into GOAT talks every time the opportunity arises and, with his birthday taking place today, they used the moment to share their love and appreciation for the K.O.D musician. 

If part of your daily news routine involves scrolling through the trending topics on Twitter, you'll have noticed a particular message being shared thousands of times. "Happy Birthday To The GOAT" was a top trend on the social platform this morning and, after dissecting the content, it's clear that people aren't speaking to Rick Ross, who also celebrates a birthday today. The trend is for J. Cole, with his fans going absolutely crazy with their wishes, declaring him the best and explaining why they believe so.

Do you agree that J. Cole belongs in the top tier of all-time rappers? Or will his upcoming output be the deciding factor?

NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Maria Onore were killed in a helicopter crash Sunday morning, as reported by TMZ. Fans, former players, celebrities and more have taken to social media to express their sympathy and reflect on the impact Kobe Bryant had on their lives and the game of basketball.

Kobe was an 18-time all-star, 5-time NBA champion and 2-time finals MVP during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. Kobe ended his career in 2016 as one of the most revered and respected sports figures of all time. His tireless commitment to the game inspired countless kids to pick up a basketball. 

"Man I don’t even know where to start?? I started playing ball because of KOBE after watching the 2010 Finals. I had never watched ball before that and that Finals was the turning point of my life. I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE. I’m so FREAKING SAD right now!!!! RIP LEGEND," writes Joel Embiid.