Carmelo Anthony Talks Freddy Grey & Colin Kaepernick With ESPN Magazine
*In his interview with ESPN Magazine, New York Knicks baller Carmelo Anthony channels the Black Panthers for his cover photo, and talks about how the Freddie Gray police killing in his hometown of Baltimore inspired him speak up about social injustice.
“But when it’s powerful, timing is everything, and for me the Freddie Gray thing was the one that tipped me off. It was like something just exploded. It was like [snaps] now was the time. Enough is enough,” Anthony tells the publication.
He added “And everybody’s calling me like, ‘We should do this’ or ‘We should do that,’ and I was like, ‘I’m going home.’ If you want to come with me, you come with me, but I’m going home. I’m not calling reporters and getting on the news; I’m actually going there. I wanted to feel that. I wanted to feel that pain. I wanted to feel that tension.”
The NBA star goes on to talk about America’s broken police and educational systems.
“The system is broken,” he said. “It trickles down. It’s the education. You’ve got to be educated to know how to deal with police. The police have to be educated on how to deal with people. The system has to put the right police in the right situations. Like, you can’t put white police in the ‘hood. You just can’t do that. They don’t know how to react. They don’t know how to respond to those different situations.”
Carmelo also revealed a few details about the conversation he had with NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick the night after he initiated his national anthem protest.
“I spoke to him that night,” he said. “He reached out to me that night. And I’m watching and I’m like, ‘OK.’ Like, ‘What’s next?’ In a very respectful way, he was like, ‘I took this step and, you know, just wanted to get your thoughts on what’s happening.’ And I said, ‘Well, you’re courageous.’ I said, ‘You just showed a lot of courage in what you just did, but now is the hard part because you have to keep it going. So if that was just a one-time thing, then you’re f*cked. But now you keep it going and be articulate and elaborate on why you’re doing it, and be educated and knowledgeable of why you’re doing it so when people ask, you can stand up for what you believe in and really let them hear why.’”
How does being called unpatriotic affect him?
“I mean, you hear it. I just think that’s bullshit for somebody to call me unpatriotic. That’s totally bullshit. I’ve committed to this country on many different levels. Committing to USA Basketball since I was 19 years old, playing in four Olympics, going to the different parts of the world. Where they were warring, you know? Traveling to Turkey where they were bombing the building three doors down from us. Going to the games where they’ve got “Down with the USA” signs out there.”
Anthony also weighs in on the idea of black players forming their own league and leaving the NBA.
“I think the resources are there. I think we’re powerful enough. I can only speak for basketball players. We’re powerful enough to, if we wanted to, create our own league. But everybody would have to be willing to do that. You have to be willing to say, ‘This is what I’m going to do. I’m supporting this right here.’ Because at the end of the day, the athletes are the league. Without the athletes, there’s no league. Without us, there’s no them. And they don’t think like that. They say, “We’re your main source of income, so you’re going to need me before I need you.” I think you just have to be willing to do that. You have to be willing to make that move, and, you know, strength comes in numbers. If you don’t have those numbers, it’s not going to work. “The people in the position of power understand now more than ever that some of the athletes are just as powerful as them. And that’s the scary part. To know that, ‘Somebody I’m paying, you know, is just as powerful as me. We don’t want that.'”
You can check out Anthony’s full interview here.
#RHoA: Porsha Williams Spills the Details on Dating Her Ex Again
Sometimes things are better the second time around.
When it comes to the new season of Real Housewives of Atlanta, reality star Porsha Williams reveals that fans will be getting an even closer view into her life through the show touching on intimate topics such as her love life and dipping back into dating.
"This season on Housewives, you will really get to know me. Um, I've been kind of evolving. And I think this season I'm more comfortable in my skin than ever before," Williams told the ladies on The Real (airing Monday).
"I'm taking counseling, which is something I'm a really big fan of, therapy. Being able to have another outlet is really good. Getting back closer to family as well and saying, 'yes' to things more. You know? Sometimes life can wear you down."
Williams continued to explain that she stopped holding blessings back from happening, and it ultimately led to rekindling an old flame.
"The power of yes! You know, you start to say 'no' because you think you're protecting yourself, but really, you're stopping some of the blessings that could happen. So for me, this season, you know, I start dating again," she said.
"And crazy enough, the person that I'm seeing is someone from my past. We dated four years in my early twenties, he was the love of my life."
Williams added that funny enough, her new beau's last name is Stewart! But no, it's not her ex-husband, LOL. "But it's interesting, you get to kind of see that relationship and kind of where we are. We're not exactly in a relationship right now, but it's growing into something," she said.
#EMPIRE: See Taraji P. Henson Rock Rihanna's Manolo Blahnik Boots
We know RiRi would love this.
Paolo Nieddu, the expert stylist and costume designer currently working on Empire, recently had a brilliant idea to borrow a page from Rihanna's stylebook when dressing Taraji P. Henson's fashionable, fearless and hilarious character, Cookie.
With Henson taking to Instagram to show off the customized pair of Rihanna's Manolo Blahnik boots, she hails Nieddu as a "genius," and excitedly captions her post "#Cookie came to #DragandSLAY."
For this look, the thigh-high denim heeled boots are carefully adorned with various charms, and were paired with a gorgeous fur and white dress shirt. Henson is correct, this look designed for Cookie is absolutely on point.
New Music: Mary J. Blige feat. Kendrick Lamar – American Skin (41 Shots)
Mary J. Blige has unleashed her powerful remake of Bruce Springsteen’s “American Skin” featuring a surprise guest spot from Kendrick Lamar.
While Mary performed the song for Hillary Clinton during an episode of “The 411,” K-Dot’s verse is brand new.
“These days murder keep ’em busy / Sweet blood flowed on the gurney / Yellow tape tied around the street / Colin Kaepernick was more than worthy, ” he rhymes.
Mary’s soulful voice brings the anti-police brutality theme home. “Well, is it a gun? Is it a knife?” she asks. “Is it a wallet? This is your life / It ain’t no secret / No secret my friend / You can get killed just for living in your American skin.”
This isn’t the first time Mary and Kendrick have joined forces. They also teamed up on “Now or Never” off the deluxe edition of good kid, m.A.A.d. city.
LISTEN HERE
“American Skin (41 Shots)” may appear on Mary’s forthcoming album Strength of a Woman, which will also feature “Thick of It.”
New Music: Twista – ‘Next To You’ (Ft. Jeremih)
Twista calls on Jeremih to take care of the hook as he gives Rose Royce‘s “I Wanna Get Next to You” a makeover.
On his verses from “Next to You,” Twista addresses the one that’s got him mesmerized: “They say I’m looking at you like prey, and I’ma lion and I’m finna make a move,” he raps to her.
Meanwhile, Jeremih borrows from the original hook; also singing about his Christian Dior’s and texting his love interest for that “I’m alone” message.
Listen as the fellow Chicago natives link up on “Next to You,” HERE
No Video Evidence in Azealia Banks Russell Crowe Incident
Last week Harlem rapper Azealia Banks promised surveillance video from the Beverly Hills Hotel would prove she was spit on and manhandled by A-List actor Russell Crowe after she was thrown out of a party in his hotel suite
Well too bad no such video exists...
Sources close to the investigation tell TMZ there are tons of surveillance video in the common areas of the hotel, but none where Azealia Banks was thrown out.
Meanwhile Azealia tells Us Magazine,
“Even if I were proven to be telling the truth in this situation, people have built their case up against me, and honestly I don’t have the care or the time to try and fight millions … like, I can’t fight the whole world. I am tired of defending myself. You know, it’s just really unfortunate. People are going to think whatever they want to think about me. Y’all need to think about this damn music.”
“Realistically, to be honest, I really don’t want to [press charges]. Because I just don’t want this in the media. I want my music out. I just want to f--king put my music out. I just want my music to shine. I don’t want to be dealing with another episode, another thing, another whatever.”
“[Russell] feels that he did nothing wrong, so I’m just like, OK, if you want to pay a bunch of litigators and a bunch of people to apologize to me, then I guess that’s what you want to do. You could apologize to me for free now and make this all go away.”
Michael B. Jordan Inks a Production Deal for Film & TV Projects with Skydance Media
The fine young actor has launched a production company and signed a multiyear first-look film and TV production deal with Skydance Media.
via THR: Jordan has tapped Wynn Wygal to serve as vp at Outlier Productions. Wygal joins the company from Mad Chance Productions, the production arm behind American Sniper, where she served as director of development. During her time at Mad Chance, Wygal championed It’s What I Do, Queen of the Air and Wynne’s War and oversaw the English adaptation of Akira, among other projects.
Jordan has set his first TV project under the Skydance deal: Apollo Park. The scripted drama revolves around a young basketball player’s rapid rise to professional fame and the effects of his success on his family and community back in inner-city Detroit.
Eric Amadio, whose FX drama Snowfall was just picked up to series, co-created Apollo Park with Jordan. Amadio will pen the potential series and executive produce alongside Jordan, Evan Silverberg and Kenny Goodman as well as Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Marcy Ross.
“Michael is an incredibly gifted actor and storyteller whose proven track record on both the big and small screen together with his boundless ambitions make him an ideal partner for us at Skydance,” Skydance CEO Ellison said Wednesday in a statement. “We are so excited to team up with Michael and Eric on Apollo Park, a riveting sports drama about courage, perseverance and family.”
The film and TV pact comes as Jordan, 29, has spent much of his life in Hollywood. He launched his acting career in 1999 with episodes of The Sopranos before going on to star as Wallace on HBO’s critically acclaimed drama The Wire. In 2009, Jordan joined the cast of NBC’s cult favorite Friday Night Lights and reteamed with showrunner Jason Katims for the network’s Parenthood. On the big screen, his credits include Creed, Fantastic Four, Fruitvale Station and Chronicle, among others. Jordan will next be seen in Marvel’s Black Panther, due in 2018.
“I love telling true, modern stories and Apollo Park — an underdog tale about a very real and very heroic hustler who defies stereotypes and thrives against great odds — has long been a passion project of mine. Eric and I are excited to join forces with the incredible creative team at Skydance to share it with the world,” said Jordan, who grew up playing basketball for his high school team in Newark, N.J. “I’m also very eager to start this new chapter in my career by launching my production company and I am thrilled to have Wynn join my team.”
Jordan joins a roster of producers with overall deals at Skydance, including Marti Noxon (who is developingDietland for TV), among others. On the TV side, Skydance is behind Netflix’s Grace and Frankie as well as the upcoming Altered Carbon at Netflix, Spike’s Red Mars and Amazon’s Jack Ryan.
Jordan and Outlier are repped by WME, MGMT and Bloom Hergott; Amadio is with CAA, Management 360 and Bloom Hergott.
Apollo Park becomes the latest sports-themed scripted project in the works. It joins CBS’ football family comedy based on the life of Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell and established series including Fox’s Pitch, Starz’s basketball-themed Survivor’s Remorse, HBO’s Ballers and DirecTV/The Audience Network’s Kingdom.
Go Michael!
Drake Announces 'More Life' Project, Drops 4 New Tracks While Sneak Dissin'
Drake turns 30 today He's already kicked off the celebration a day early with the announcement of a new project. He even dropped a few new tracks, and he's got some words for his enemies. Get it all inside...
This guy doesn't quit. After dropping one of the biggest albums of the year, he went out on the Summer Sixteen tour and pretty much killed it in every city. After the last few dates were cut short due to injury, Drake's making up for it with a brand new project and plenty more music.
The 6 God hosted a special birthday episode on his own OVOSOUND Apple radio show today. After premiering two tracks from members of the OVO Fam, Drake started rolling out his own new ish.
His new "playlist project" called More Life drops this December. According to the Toronto native, it's a different take on the mixtape and album format he's already released. This one will feature original material from him and the OVO family.
He gave a preview of four of those songs -- three original and one remix.
On a track called "Two Birds One Stone," he spit a line that has all the internets in a tizzy:
"You were the Man on the Moon, now you just go through your phases."
Many believe it's referencing rival Kid Cudi and his recent rehab stint for his mental health. Man on the Moon is the name of Cudi's debut studio album. On "Wanna Know," he remixed up and coming UK artist Santan Dave’s track. "Sneakin'" features his new homie 21 Savage and "Fake Love" is an extended take on "One Dance."
You can check them over at hip hop-n-more
Chicago radio legend Herb Kent, the Cool Gent, dies at 88
iHeartMedia Chicago confirmed his passing. Region president Matt Scarano writes in a statement, “We are so thankful for the privilege of working alongside such an historic figure as Herb Kent for the past 27 years. Our thoughts and prayers are with Herb’s family, friends, and loved ones. His passion for radio and work ethic was second-to-none.”
The octogenarian was still in his prime and working at WVON, WJJD and V103, hosting two highly rated weekend shows on WVAZ FM-”V103.” Kent was a professor lecturing communication students at Chicago State University. A Chicago native, his career in radio reached 70 years.
He’s credited with helping to launch the careers of such R&B artists as The Temptations, Minnie Riperton, Curtis Mayfield, and Smokey Robinson. During the turbulent ‘60s, Herb became a prominent Civil Rights activist using his broadcast platform. He hosted a program with Stevie Wonder for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s last visit to Chicago.
In 1995, Kent was inducted into the Museum of Broadcasting’s Radio Hall of Fame and he also has a street named in his honor, “Herb Kent Drive,” in Bronzeville.
In 2009, Kent released his book Cool Gent, The Nine Lives of a Radio Legend and was also inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest on air DJ.
A little over two weeks ago, Kent celebrated his 88th birthday. On Oct. 6, he wrote a thank you note on his Facebook page, “Thank you to all my Fans for the birthday wishes, each of you made my day special. I can dig it!”
The Folks came together to Hit up Mariah Carey's Halloween Party
The folks who didn't hit up the Maxim Halloween party last night had somewhere even better to be:
Mariah's house. The singer had Tamar Braxton, Tiny Harris, Floyd Mayweather and more over for her big costume party. Didn't T.I. just light into Floyd last week about his silly #AllLivesMatter stance....after their brawl that was allegedly over Tiny being a little too close to him in Vegas a little while back? Wonder what he thinks of this pic...
The ladies sexed up their costumes and looked like they had plenty of fun.
MiMi's ex husband Nick Cannon was even in the mix, posing it up with their twins in Super Mario and princess costumes.
Mariah and Floyd looked cozy:
Ugh...these clowns.
Fun times.
DJ Khaled Welcomes Son and Documents It on Snapchat — Find Out His Name
DJ Khaled is a dad!
The DJ became a dad for the first time in the early hours of Sunday, Oct. 23. His longtime fiancée Nicole Tuck gave birth to a boy.
Naturally, the rapper and social media star documented the entire birth process on his favorite app — Snapchat. Khaled posted dozens of Snaps over the weekend, showing the moment Tuck’s water first broke on Saturday to her hours-long labor. He also showed the first moments of the newborn’s life, although he only let fans hear the baby’s cries rather than show him.
Khaled’s rep confirmed to PEOPLE that the baby’s name is Asahd Tuck Khaled and he clocked in at 7 lbs. 14 oz., and 21.5 inches long. “Asahd” means lion in Arabic.
After his son’s birth, Khaled cried tears of joys and celebrated with his family (his mother came to the hospital) and friends.
“I’ve always wanted kids,” he said. “This is my first kid and I’m excited and I want more. I’ve always wanted to be a family man. I’m in a great family and I want to have my own family at the same time.”
And his new son will inevitably have some “special cloth alerts,” courtesy of his Snapchat star father, who said he is eager to spoil the little guy.
“I want to spoil our kids and give them everything,” he said in May. “There’s no limit to the spoiling that I’m going to do. I’m going to spoil them to the minute they in my hands. I’m going all out.”
The DJ is also looking forward to his son becoming his very own mini-me.
“My son’s going to be a young icon,” he said.
And the baby already has some new cloth! Wendy Williams took Khaled’s comments to a new level when she gifted the rapper a “Young Icon” onesie during their interview on The Wendy Williams Show in October.
Britney Spears risks baring all as bondage-style bra rips open before stunned dancers desperately try to protect her modesty at Vegas show
Since soaring to international fame 18 years ago, her stage ensembles have grown increasingly scanty.
And Britney Spears was inches from flashing more than ever on Saturday night when she suffered an epic wardrobe malfunction while performing a date of her Piece Of Me Las Vegas residency at The Axis inside the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
The 34-year-old songstress was belting out her cover of Joan Jett And The Blackhearts' hit I Love Rock 'n Roll when her bondage-inspired bra ripped open leading to two dancers attempting to cover her up.
Britney kicked off her four-year Vegas residency in 2013, before announcing the shows had been extended for two more years, so is undoubtedly well accustomed to storming The Axis stage in her plethora of racy looks.
Yet Saturday night saw a change from the usual as the Sometimes hitmaker's bondage-style bra popped open at the neck leading to Britney clutching the cups on the garment.
Ever the professional, the blonde beauty continued to belt out her tracks yet was forced to put her dance moves on hold while her dancers came to her aid.
Far from looking concerned, the veteran star pulled a bevvy of cheeky faces as she appeared both shocked and humored by the situation.
While Britney has an array of stage costumes for the high-energy tour, it seems her Grecian style bra and belted skirt combo failed her on this occasion.
With her endless dates on the epic residency, it is not shocking that there has been a handful of mishaps after a sexy sheer jumpsuit became unzipped last year.
The stunning star's return to Sin City comes weeks after she jetted to London for an array of personal appearances and a stunning performance as part of the Apple Music Festival in Camden.
EGGPLANT NATION: Meet Stocky Steve
Ladies and others...LOL Meet Stocky Steve ! So you know what to do to see more. Just GO HERE TO SEE THE PICS and remember they’re NSFW!
DISCLAIMER: WE DO NOT OWN NOR ALTER any images posted on this blog. All images are found online or submitted.
You’re Welcome!
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘Bread Winner’’
Some of the most important and fragile things in life, babies & bread. Gotta protect what counts people!
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!
EFREM
