The Joe Budden Podcastand its hosts are known for delivering their thoughts and opinions about the culture, doing so in their usual direct fashion regarding Jeezy and Jeannie Mai. With the announcement going wide that Jeezy is filing for divorce from Jeannie Mai, the JBN Gang couldn’t avoid the discussion, naturally.
The discussion took place on The Joe Budden Podcast Episode 658 and in the segment devoted to the divorce of the celebrity couple, Ice, Ish, Melyssa Ford, and QueenzFlip handled the bulk of the discussion. Budden, directing the conversation, mentioned Mai’s controversial statements about dating Black men, essentially saying that they were only great for sex.
Ish chimed in and expressed shock that the pair decided to split, considering that they appeared to have a solid union as expected for celebrities and had only been married for two years, along with having a child in that period.
Budden, who agreed somewhat with Ish, backed up Ice’s comments that despite what their image is, nobody was privy to the couple’s inner workings. Budden, piggybacking off of Ice’s comment that the couple had allegedly been separated for months, also added that despite very recent public appearances the pair made, it could’ve just been for the optics.
Lil Babyis without a doubt one of the best rappers of his generation with scene-stealing features and hits that will ring off for years. However, the talented star found himself getting checked about his street cred after a video of him at a gun range surfaced last week.
Akademiks posted a video of Lil Baby and another gentleman firing off rounds at what appears to be a makeshift shooting range. The rapper, real name Dominque Jones, is seen firing off a semiautomatic rifle but it looks like the kickback is getting the best of him.
Later in the clip, Lil Baby is seen brandishing a gold-plated pistol and fires off the weapon while his friend looks on with approval.
What many observers have noted is that the It’s Only Me artist doesn’t look entirely comfortable with the deadly weaponry in his hands, contrasting greatly with his image of coming up in the streets of the A. What should be highlighted and celebrated is that LB and his homeboy wore protective gear for their ears.
Jemele Hill has emerged as one of the more outspoken sports journalists and public figures of her era, using her massive platform to express thoughts that are often met with pushback. Hill once more sounded off in her unique way, criticizing Offset for sitting down with Bobbi Althoff for an interview.
Via X, formerly known as Twitter, Jemele Hill fired a shot at Offset for appearing on an upcoming episode of The Really Good Podcast with Bobbi Althoff. Some might remember the podcast for a viral interview with Drake as he and Althoff have a conversation in bed while the Canadian superstar sips wine.
I don’t find these types of interviews particularly enjoyable or interesting,” began Hill’s critique on X. “Instead it just sadly points out how real hip hop journalism has been practically erased. Some of the media teams behind these artists aren’t interested in them sitting down with credible people who know how to tell stories and do quality interviews. Then they wonder why an artist’s real story goes untold, neglected or that artist is misunderstood.”
In a new viral clip, Offset is seen matching wits with the typically deadpan and sarcastic Althoff and not letting her humor get the best of him. Further, Althoff’s attempt to embarrass her guest backfires as the Migos star deftly dodges and parries with his own shots.
Hill’s missive is not unlike one made by veteran Hip-Hop journalist Elliott Wilson, who made similar comments about Drake sitting down with Althoff in lieu of Black media outlets that actually know and care about his story.
Wilson previously interviewed the OVO honcho on his show, Rap Radar. Wilson also clarified that he wasn’t miffed Drake wouldn’t sit down for a second time but wondered aloud why a star of Drake’s magnitude would, in his words, “speak to us again” in a reference to Black music media.
Hill just wrapped season four of her original Spotify podcast Jemele Hill Is Unbothered this past July.
I don’t find these types of interviews particularly enjoyable or interesting. Instead it just sadly points out how real hip hop journalism has been practically erased. Some of the media teams behind these artists aren’t interested in them sitting down with credible people who… https://t.co/l1jaaWjj7R
Though he’s not as active in the game as he was back in the day, Talib Kweli is still one of the best lyricists in rap today and whenever he does drop something new, Hip-Hop purists are all ears as they know they’re in for some real ish.
Teaming up with Madlib and linking up with Roc Marciano and Westside Gunn for the animated visuals to “Richies Part Two,” the artists take a backseat and let the art speak for itself as the bars are drawn out using black-and-white animation and gives viewers something to take in and appreciate as they listen to these emcees do their thing. Dope sh*t.
On the R&B tip, Doja Cat gets supernatural with it and for her clip to “Agora Hills,” the catty crooner hits the burbs that’s been hit by a natural disaster and floats through the streets with sparkling feet before showing off the claws on her toes. That’s just OD, but we’re sure men with foot fetishes might enjoy the look.
Check out the rest of today’s drops and some joints you might’ve missed over the weekend including work from Money Man, Don Trip, and more.
TALIB KWELI & MADLIB FT. ROC MARCIANO & WESTSIDE GUNN – “RICHIES PART TWO”
Usher is on cloud 9 about performing at Super Bowl LVIII. He recently shared how he got a call from Jay-Z right after the announcement was made.
On Saturday, September 24 the National Football League made the reveal with a hilarious spoof of Usher’s “Confessions, Pt. II” video featuring Kim Kardashian. Huffington Post is reporting that the Grammy Award winner recently sat down with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. While the two discussed several things the hottest topic was that he will be headlining one of the biggest shows of 2024. He went on to say that Jay-Z was one of the first people to hit his phone to congratulate him. “But when I got this call… he said, ‘It’s time, it’s magic time. You know, it’s time for you to have that moment.’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?'” Usher recalled. “He’s like, ‘The Super Bowl.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, you ready? Absolutely.'”
USHER. LAS VEGAS. APPLE MUSIC HALFTIME SHOW. #SBLVIII
The “I Don’t Mind” singer went on to explain that this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was destiny.
“I think that everything that led up to that moment, going to Las Vegas for my residency for the last two years, the legacy, obviously that is the music, the celebration of entertainment in that place. It’s the City of Lights. You know, it’s always been a place where entertainers go and find love and passion, connection to their fans,” Usher said.
This is not the first time Usher has graced the Super Bowl stage. Back in 2011, he joined The Black Eye Peas during their headline show. You can see Usher and Zane discussing things below.
Visual Concepts and 2K Sports set up NBA 2K24 with the perfect alley-oop pass with NBA 2K23, but sadly, they couldn’t throw it down for the spectacular finish.
Like the Madden NFL video game franchise, Visual Concepts’s NBA 2K video games are in a very unique position, being the only officially licensed basketball video game on the market.
The last time the NBA 2K franchise had to worry about some competition was in 2018, when EA dropped NBA Live 2018, the last time we would see an NBA Live video game on consoles.
The NBA 2K franchise has been a model of consistency and as dominant as the Jordan-led Chicago Bulls, Kobe and Shaq Lakers, and the Golden State Warriors, but as of recently, fans have grown weary of the games.
The biggest complaints as of late are that the games don’t bring any significant improvements and are nothing but rehashes of the games from the previous year with a fresh coat of paint.
It’s the same complaintsMadden NFL fans have expressed about those games.
While Madden has taken a knee with its latest games on next-gen consoles, the NBA 2K franchise gave us hope with their first three entries on the PS5 and Xbox Series X. We hoped that would continue with NBA 2K24, and on paper, it seemed we were getting an improvement from 2K23, but sadly that is not the case.
This is a letdown, especially for a game that features the late Kobe Bryant on the cover.
The Mamba Moments Mode Is Fun But Feels Empty At The Same Time
Source: 2K Sports / Visual Concepts / NBA 2K24
There are still many other memorable moments you get to relive in the game, BUT it’s glaring that you can’t relive Kobe’s 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors.
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It made perfect sense to put Kobe Bryant on the cover of NBA 2K24, mainly because 24 was Bryant’s jersey number when he hung up his Nike Kobe Protro kicks.
Like 2K23’s Jordan Challenge, NBA 2K24 came with the Mamba Moments, one of the game’s most significant bright spots, allowing you to relive seven of Bryant’s career-defining moments.
In an odd decision, the mode bypasses Bryant’s early career and jumps five years later to 2001 during the NBA Playoffs. There are still many other memorable moments you get to relive in the game, BUT it’s glaring that you can’t relive Kobe’s 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors.
The only person probably happy about that is Jalen Rose, who, as of late, made light of Bryant’s near record-breaking performance against him.
Despite that one moment missing, it’s still fun controlling Bryant at his playing peak and torching the competition.
MyNBA ERAs Are Back
Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K24
MyNBA ERAs remain one of the game’s few bright spots…
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First introduced in NBA 2K23, ERAs are a unique twist to the franchise mode, allowing players to dominate when certain players were dominant in the league.
If you want to play in today’s NBA and use today’s rules, you can head to The Modern Era. If you want to dominate the league as LeBron James at the height of his career or keep him from acquiring rings, you can play in the new LeBron Era.
Other eras include, of course, The Kobe Era, or The Jordan and Magic vs Bird era where the rules were a bit more lax, and the play on the court was intensely physical.
Presentation remains a top feature in 2K24, so you can play those games with a 90s-80s filter on the screen, and if that annoys you, the game does give you the option to turn it off to restore that glorious 4K look.
MyNBA ERAs remain one of the game’s few bright spots.
ProPlay Technology Adds A New Look & Feel
Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K24
ProPlay literally allows for a more accurate translation of NBA superstar’s signature moves on the court into the video game, allowing for more realistic layups, dunks, and jump shots.
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The most significant addition to the game is ProPlay Technology, which makes NBA 2K24 the most realistic feeling iteration of the game ever.
ProPlay literally allows for a more accurate translation of NBA superstar’s signature moves on the court into the video game, allowing for more realistic layups, dunks, and jump shots.
So all those sick dribble moves and fadeaway three-pointers you watch Steph Curry do on a nightly basis are perfectly encapsulated in the game and look fantastic. He’s not the only NBA star who benefits from the technology.
Presentation and feel is never an area where we have to worry about Visual Concepts coming up short in an NBA 2K video game, and that continues to be the case here.
Where NBA 2K24 Is Throwing Up Bricks
Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K24
Unfortunately, new advancements like ProPlay Technology and the Mamba Moments mode are not enough to make this game great. MyTEAM is okay, but it still feels like you will need to swipe my credit card to get better enjoyment out of it.
MyCAREER is back and takes your MyPLAYER back to The City, which is as big as ever but is still a grind trying to make your created player an NBA champion and one of the league’s best players.
The City is also full of ridiculous quests like talking to Jake from State Farm (yes, this is still a thing) or finding Ronnie 2K chilling on the beach, the latest edition to The City.
Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K24
The City is beautiful and still a fantastic idea, but unless you are big into playing online, we don’t see how many people will enjoy their time running around it.
The W is also back, and we are happy to see the WNBA continue to get love in NBA 2K24, especially during a time when the W is getting its most buzz since its inception.
Source: Visual Concepts / NBA 2K24
While its inclusion is welcomed, it still feels like an afterthought, but with time, it will have a much more significant presence in future NBA 2K video games.
Final Verdict
Source: 2K Sports / Visual Concepts / NBA 2K24
Not even the great Kobe Bryant, Mamba Moments, or ProPlay Technology are enough to bring NBA 2K24 to the prominence it once held.
While the last game was promising, NBA 2K24 is stepping back in the wrong direction and only boasts some incremental improvements.
NBA 2K24 is far from great, but it’s still okay. But that should not be the case for what is the definitive basketball video game out, mainly because it’s the only one out.
With a $70 price tag on top of the money you. We will be spending on VC to level up your character and other items in the game; we understand if people feel like 2K is swiping their cash like De’Aaron Fox steals the basketball easily from his opponents on the court.
We can only hope the folks at Visual Concepts and 2K Sports are taking notes from the community and making 2K25 the fantastic game it should be.
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Photo: 2K Sports / Visual Concepts
*NBA 2K24 key provided for PS5 provided for use by Visual Concepts and 2K Sports*
Chrisean Rock and Blueface are back to their usual on-again, off-again relationship, and the new mother of one is already putting her baby daddy on blast. After Blueface posted a questionable image of their son, Chrisean Rock went on Instagram Live to discuss the matter.
Chrisean Rock saw her name trending after Blueface, or someone who allegedly hacked his Twitter account, and posted an image of their infant son’s genitalia. Again, this is alleged as we have not seen or are looking for that photo.
Rock went on IG Live and let off an emotional rant regarding the leaked image of her son. The stream was screen-recorded by The Neighborhood Talk, which we’ll share below.
From what we were able to gather from X, formerly known as Twitter, and from the comments on Instagram, Rock and Blueface’s son might be suffering from a hernia, which sometimes requires surgery. While the offending images are scrubbed from Blueface’s Twitter page, there are posts from last week that address Rock and their son.
“I know she going thru some an it’s not easy no hood harder then parent hood so I’m not gone be mean to her no more cuz her mental state determines how my son day goes let’s just encourage her to be more accountable an responsible this time around come on rock we got this I’m here,” Blueface tweeted last Friday (September 22).
In a series of tweets posted Monday morning (September 25), Rock looks as if she’s attempting, yet again, to sever ties with Blueface with fans urging her to do so for good.
“I tried making peace but he knew certain things I wasn’t for real about like actually doing milfmusic and back yo giving my income to him,” began the morning thread.
It continued with, “Crazy i didn’t even know u posted our sons D*ck on social media woah this man knows how to hurt me bro I got nothing else to say blue this ain’t ya kid no more blue I got nothing but love for this tragic situation.
We’ve got reactions to Chrisean Rock and Blueface’s latest fallout below.
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Photo: Prince Williams / Getty
1.
No matter who I block… what words I mute… I, for the life of me, cannot escape Blueface & Chrisean pic.twitter.com/oN0HtHpXoH
I have no sympathy for Chrisean. Blueface is what he is, she been knew that. He didn’t turn like this overnight. Idc about the whole “she’s a new mother, be patient with her”bullshit. Some shit is just common sense. LIKE HOLDING THAT BABYS NECK. Shes slow & missing brain cells
If you identify w Chrisean that’s why you empathize with her unfollow me now! It’s one thing to be naive at a young age but once you become someone’s ma all that sh.t go out the fcking window no excuse! to feel inappropriate about blue still fck him get preg 5x and run back is .. pic.twitter.com/b0vfguG9lq
Chrisean Rock on live right now addressing Blueface posting Jrs hernia pic and telling him might as well post his others sons private parts pic since he has then on his phone too
Blueface and Chrisean Rock might be the most disgusting couple I've ever seen in my life. I don't feel sorry for neither one but that baby. Them motherfuckers are not fit to be parents
For the second time, Usher will be gracing the stage at the Super Bowl halftime show, but this time he’s the headliner.
As previously reported, the NFL announced Sunday (Sept. 24) that the R&B icon, who performed during the halftime show in 2011 as a special guest of the Black Eyed Peas, will be leading the performance next year for Super Bowl LVIII in February in Las Vegas, Nevada.
USHER. LAS VEGAS. APPLE MUSIC HALFTIME SHOW. #SBLVIII
On the same day his halftime show performance was announced, Usher spoke with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe about the moment he got the call informing him he had been tapped for the show by none other than the “big homie” Jay-Z, whose entertainment company Roc Nation has a long-term business partnership with the NFL.
“But when I got this call… he said, ‘It’s time, it’s magic time. You know, it’s time for you to have that moment.’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’” Usher recalled. “He’s like, ‘The Super Bowl.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, you ready? Absolutely.’” The Confessions singer added that being booked to headline the halftime show was “destined to happen” at some point during his three-decade-long career.
“I think that everything that led up to that moment, going to Las Vegas for my residency for the last two years, the legacy, obviously that is the music, the celebration of entertainment in that place,” Usher explained. “It’s the City of Lights. You know, it’s always been a place where entertainers go and find love and passion, connection to their fans. He also talked about how fortuitous it is “for the Super Bowl to have made its way to Las Vegas while we were in Vegas.”
Usher indicated that he would likely bring guest performers to the stage in February, but he wouldn’t say who would be joining him if anyone.
“I’ve collaborated with a lot of incredible artists throughout the years. If anything, I’d like to socially engage the world. I’d like to hear who you think would be a great guest to complement this,” Usher told Lowe.
It may or may not be a coincidence that Usher has a new album called Coming Home that is set to release on the same day as his Super Bowl performance. Either way, February 11, 2024 is going to be a hell of a day for Usher fans.
Eazy The Block Captain is still swarmed with heavy allegations that he is dating Remy Ma, the wife of veteran rapper Papoose and the founder of the Chrome rap battle league. While Eazy The Block Captain has yet to address the allegations, a posted then deleted message is adding fuel to the embers of discussion, while Remy Ma and Papoose have yet to speak to rumors.
It appears that a publicist for Eazy The Block Captain has been working for her client to get his story told. Nicole Sabrina, who posts on Instagram as @nikkithecoach_ shared a lengthy statement regarding the Philadelphia battle rapper below.
From Instagram:
9/22/23, I issued a statement to some media outlets advising that @eazyblockcapt1 would be making a statement today and that the exclusive story is available. This was done without Eazy’s consent. I understand that this is a serious error, and I take full responsibility for my actions.
My words and intent are now being twisted at the sacrifice of a client and I cannot have that. Eazy and I have worked together for a few years, and while it has been some time since our last project, I took it upon myself to begin discovery on potential business opportunities from a PR stand point.
Let me be clear, no amount of money was requested for an interview with Eazy. I made it clear that he would be dropping a statement on his own platforms first and that I have received offers for an exclusive interview after the release of that statement. Eazy did not and does not want to profit from an interview, he only wanted to release a statement telling his side of the story. I love our media and blog partners, and understand they have a duty to report the latest information on trending topics, but any blog outlet reporting anything different is not the whole truth.
Via his Instagram, eagle-eyed X (formerly known as Twitter) users caught wind of an Instagram story Eazy The Block Captain posted over the weekend and later deleted.
“If it’s not me, nobody speaks on my behalf. There’s a lot of rumors out there that I will address very soon,” Eazy wrote last Friday (September 22), which is the same day his publicist posted her statement.
Will Smith is poised to explore a key year in Hip-Hop with a new original podcast on Audible featuring Queen Latifah, Chuck D, and more legends.
The Hip-Hop pioneer and actor Will Smith announced that the launch of a new podcast titled Class of ’88, last Thursday (Sept. 21). The podcast will explore rap music during 1988, a year which saw the ascension of Public Enemy as well as the growth of DJ Jazzy & The Fresh Prince along with the rise of women rappers such as Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa.
In the trailer, Smith begins: “Today, Hip-Hop dominates pop culture but it wasn’t always like that. Before 1988, people saw our music as a passing fad.” The eight-episode series will have Smith sit down and talk with Queen Latifah, Chuck D of Public Enemy,Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels, his bandmate DJ Jazzy Jeff, Rakim and Salt-N-Pepa.
Class of ’88 is produced by Audible along with Smith’s Westbrook production company. The podcast network Wondery as well as podcast production company Awfully Nice are also involved in the making of the series.
The focus of the series is notable, as 1988 was the year that Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff became renowned on the scene with their chart-topping song “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” The track from their second album He’s The DJ, I’m The Rapper would earn them a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance. The duo were not on hand to receive the award as they took part in a boycott of the Grammys along with other rap artists due to the inaugural performance not being televised. “Hip-hop has been a central part of my life for over four decades,” Smith said when contacted by Billboard. “I’m hyped to share my first-hand experiences and those of some of hip-hop’s greatest legends as we delve into the origins of one of the most influential genres of music in history.”
Class of ’88 will be available to listeners on Audible and Amazon Music beginning October 26. Amazon Prime members can also stream the podcast without ads. Check out the trailer above.
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