In the final 2013 NBA Finals commercial, Forever Kobe, we are mesmerized by Los Angeles Lakers megastar Kobe Bryant’s incredible slam dunk over two Nets defenders where he hung midair for awhile before putting down the crazy slam in the 2002 Finals. The vision of Kobe suspended midair triggers a number of iconic pop-culture moments transcending in various ways from street art to a video game avatar, a wedding cake topper and more to show the impact the NBA Finals has on the whole world.
Talented and beautiful YMCMB First Lady Shanell continued her current Throwback Thursday series yesterday by releasing her cover of former R&B group 702’s cult classic, I Still Love You. Ms. SNL takes it back to 2003 with the silky smooth banger produced by The Neptunes that she floats over so effortlessly and really let’s her show off her great vocal abilities rather nicely for a really dope cover of the song. Which is really saying a lot with how big a hit it was and how it was such a classic record. If you want to hear more of Shanell continue to tune in each Thursday for her current Throwback Thursday series where she does a cover of a classic song each week and lookout for her on tour with Lil Wayne and T.I. for the America’s Most Wanted Festival this summer.
Very beautiful and talented ARTium/Def Jam Records artist Jhené Aiko gives us some new music with the really soulful melodic and dramatic No I.D.-produced balled Comfort Inn Ending. Another breath of fresh air song that really shows off Jhené’s smooth signature tone the only bad thing if any about the short “forever alone” inspired freestyle is just that, how short it’s. It should hopefully somewhat help tidy her fans and supporters over till her debut album Souled Out drops at the end of the year.
Earlier this afternoon the NBA’s annual season awards where continued to given out with the announcement of this 2012-2013 seasons All-NBA First Team selections that where lead with the unanimous choice of league MVP LeBron James of the Miami Heat leading the way. James is joined by Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant and San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan. For Bryant it’s a record-tying 11th First Team nod that has him join Utah Jazz and one-time former Lakers teammate power forward Karl Malone for the most ever such selections.
Yesterday Kendrick Lamar got started on his good kid, m.A.A.d City world tour along with the rest of his TDE and Black Hippy crew in Las Vegas. So to hold their loyal mostly hungry online following satisfied Kendrick and crew dropped a remix to ATL rapper Rocko’s current smash hit U.O.E.N.O. with Kendrick given some characteristic rhymes before straight spazzing off on the opening, than ScHoolboy Q gives his own really solidly strong contribute to the track that includes his own twist on Ross’ infamous Molly line from the original and Ab-Soul gives a pretty solid contribution as well over the eerie synths of Childish Major before Jay Rock straight demolishes the track to end it out proving why TDE/Black Hippy is running things right now and hands down the best crew in Hip-Hop right now. If you get a chance you should definitely check the crew out on tour when they come to your town and get your tickets if you haven’t already before they sell out cause they are all really great performers too.
In the video for his latest single Dinner And A Movie veteran R&B/Soul singer Ronald Isley shows the younger generation how to keep it simple, but still playa like and treat a lady right for the tender soft, smooth, feel-good timeless love song. The lead single off Ronald’s upcoming sophomore solo album, This Songs For You, which drops July 30th the record is also a kickback to The Isley Brothers classic romantic melodies of the 70’s that they dropped a lot during the summertime and the video plays out like that with a great storyline that has Mr. Biggs eying a finely built woman at a coffee shop before old playa Isley is able to finally woo the fine lady to a private movie in a baseball stadium by the visuals end. Now if only us fellas knew how to woo such fine woman like that by the time we reach that age as well everything would be right and I wouldn’t mind having a convo with Isley himself to learn a little bit how to do so.
Yesterday Ciara decided to let loose her latest single via her SoundCloud with the Nicki Minaj assisted I’m Out. The sure to be club banger and ladies anthem has CiCi and Nicki celebrating being single on the dance floor over the hard hitting, thumping and loopy production of Planet VI and Cam Wallace, as Nicki goes straight in with her fiery powerpacked guest verse and Ciara goes straight in singing about letting ladies know they can let go of their man knowing that when their man is with their new woman they can let him know, “You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.” The opening record from Ciara’s upcoming self-titled fifth album that drops on July 9th this is the most consistent Ci has sounded since releasing Fantasy Ride back in 2009 and sounds like it will be her best album since than, which is why it’s my most anticipated album of hers since that point. I definitely can’t wait to see what Ci and Nicki come up with when they release the video for this given all the potential twerking and other great sexy possibilities it brings.
In what was a very thrilling back and forth Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals of what’s sure to be a really great series between the defending NBA champion Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers, LeBron James led the defending champs to a 103-102 last second overtime victory with his strong driving layup in the final seconds right after the Pacers had appeared to win the game on three straight free throws from Paul George with 2.2 ticks left in overtime. Bron wasn’t having it though as he showed why he’s the best player in the world and recently won his fourth MVP award by just attacking and getting the driving layup at the buzzer with such ease to give the defending champs the victory.
In commemoration of what would’ve been the late great Notorious B.I.G.’s 41st birthday singer Melanie Fiona dons a Brooklyn Nets snapback and remixes Biggie’s classic One More Chance with her own really solid trendition and cover of the timeless record that really shows off her great voice and how talented an artist she truly is.
Michael Crabtree Has Surgery On Torn Achilles, Expected To Miss Significant Time!
In a defining blow for the San Francisco 49ers, wide receiver Michael Crabtree underwent surgery earlier today after he tore his Achilles tendon during organized team activities Tuesday. Crabtree now begins an estimated six month rehabilitation process period for an injury that used to be an automatic season-ending one, but no longer is because of all the technological advances in today’s medicines and procedures.
The injury is still really unfortunate for Crabtree who emerged as the 49ers top receiver last year and finally reached that Pro Bowl-level the team always envisioned for him with career highs in receptions (85), receiving yards (1,105) and touchdowns with nine, after struggling to live up to the expectations put upon him as the 10th overall pick in 2009 during his first three seasons.
With the 25-year-old Crabtree probably not expected to be 100 percent when he eventually does come back and being out for an extended period of time it makes the 49ers acquisition of Anquan Boldin even especially more important now. It also hurts the team cause of the lack of depth they have at receiver. It will definitely be interesting to see what the 49ers do to address it and how they deal with it from here on it.
