It still feels surreal that Kobe Bryant passed away this year. Kobe and his daughter Gianna were tragically killed in a helicopter crash that claimed the lives of seven others. Months later, fans are still shaken up about it all and continue to produce tributes in his honor. After all, Kobe is one of the best basketball players to ever live and inspired millions to pick up a basketball and try out the sport for themselves.

Now, Kobe is receiving a tribute in the form of a limited edition Spalding basketball. As you can see in the tweet below, the ball features a snakeskin covering which plays into his "Black Mamba" nickname. The ball features his signature and will go on sale as of Monday, June 15th.

When Kobe Bryant tragically passed away back in January, sneaker resellers began selling his shoes at insane prices, in bad faith. Some bad apples in the sneaker community ruined it for everyone as Kobe’s death became more about making a quick buck, then actually paying homage through sneakers. Nike wanted to do right by Kobe and made sure to not sell any Bryant-related shoes, at least not in the immediate future. 

Now, Nike is slowly revealing Kobe’s latest silhouette, the Nike Mamba Fury. This shoe is meant to be a more affordable option for families or ballplayers who are on a budget but still want a shoe that not only looks nice but performs well, also. As you can see from the images below, there are three colorways to start. A “Bred” model, a black and white offering, and a white and grey version. All three colorways look like they will be perfect for the court and we’re sure some of you are excited to get your hands on them. 

For now, a release date or price has not been announced so stay tuned as we will be sure to bring you all of the latest information.

Image Nike

Image Nike

Image Nike

[Via]

With the world still reeling from the sudden deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others, many have begun reflecting on their favorite Mamba memories. Though many stemmed from his dominance on the court, some looked to Kobe’s short-lived but nevertheless badass stint as a rapper. As covered in our extensive “Rap Or Go To The League” editorial, exploring the history of ballers-turned-emcees, during the early nineties Kobe “was in the studio for hours at a time, writing and rewriting songs with tireless perfectionism.” While he never quite found the hip-hop success seen by his fellow Laker Shaquille O’Neal, it’s clear that Kobe possessed a solid ear for constructing flow. 

In honor of Kobe’s memory, it seems fitting to share a homage from his time chasing hip-hop ambitions. In 1998, Kobe linked up with Shaquille O’Neal for a guest verse on Respect, Shaq’s fourth studio album. Over an old-school beat from Clark Kent, Kobe kicks things off with some intellectual multisyllabic bars; his flow and subject matter is reminiscent of Canibus, particularly in the opening lines. “I reach destinations with split-second acceleration, it caps enough time to witness your bone evaporation,” raps The Mamba. “I kidnap planes for atmospherical advantage, my lyrical damage the rise for mental mechanics.”

Tom Hauck/Getty Images

As art imitates life, Kobe’s dexterity is contrasted by Shaq Diesel’s sturdy flow. Evocative of the Notorious B.I.G, it’s almost surreal to revisit Shaq’s admittedly solid hip-hop career. Yet it’s Kobe’s verse that ultimately left the biggest impression. Even on collaborator Sonja Blade, who spoke about “3X’s Dope” during a Grantland interview. “When he laid that down, the whole studio erupted because it was like, ‘This guy is not playing.’ This was not A-B-C stuff,” she reflected. “You know what’s funny? He sounds dope,” she says afterward. “Compared to the rappers today, he’s dope. He sounds like an underground backpack rapper.”

Granted, Kobe would ultimately forsake his hip-hop dreams before anything substantial could manifest. But it’s still nice to remember another side of the legendary NBA superstar. Rest in peace Kobe Bryant — revisit some of his bars below.