Bryant scored 60 points in his final game
Wednesday night, wrapping up 20 years in the NBA retiring at the age of 37 with an unbelievable offensive showcase in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 101-96 victory over the Utah Jazz.
He scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, posting his first 50-point game since February 2009 and rallying the Lakers from a 15-point deficit to win the final game of the worst season in franchise history.
Meanwhile, at the same time Kobe was playing his swan song game, Steph Curry and The Golden State Warriors were making history. The team eclipsed Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 72 game streak win they won its 73rd game winning over the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104. Also Steph Curry needed eight 3-pointers to reach 400 on the season and 41 points for a 30-point average. Curry did it in 30 minutes.
Wednesday was planned far in advance, set up to be a highly honorific “Mamba Day” to commemorate Kobe Bryant’s last game. Kobe’s game was also moved from ESPN to ESPN2 so the simultaneous games had an opportunity to be seen.
So which history making game was the most important? Thats a touch call, pun intended but we would have to go for the Mamba....Steph is the future and his accomplishments doesnt usurp the 20 year career of Kobe.
Ciara gave serious shade when it came time to announce the nominees for Billboard’s Best Rap Artist. The singer/dancer fell silent when it came to her ex-fiancé Future. Ciara, who was presenting the nominees live on “Good Morning America,” started off just fine.
Drake, Fetty Wap…” she began before trailing off.
Her co-presenter, Ludacris, must have sensed the awkwardness and stepped in: “Future.”
Ciara then continued with the rest of the nominees list, “Wiz Khalifa and Silento.”
Talk about a pregnant pause....the kids were delivered live on air. Was Ciara being petty? Maybe. Was it planned? Likely. But we think she should have just said his name and not make waves of her baby daddy drama with Future. But now the question is, with Ciara and Luda hosting the awards show next month and if Future wins how will she react? Well, its likely he may not win....Drake cleaned house last year with multiple hits including hip-hops biggest single last year, "Hotline Bling."
But will it get ratings to see if Future wins? You bet!
Kanye West made history this week as his album, "The Life of Pablo" hit No. 1 on Billboard Album 200 that was sold through Internet streaming. The album was first exclusive to Jay Z's Tidal streaming service, was a huge seller when it was released in February on Tidal. According to the service, songs from the album were streamed 400 million times, including 250 million in the first 10 days. But because the numbers were not certified by Nielsen, it did not qualify for Billboard’s chart.
But on April 1 the album was finally released widely, including on Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming services, as well as for sale on Tidal and Mr. West’s website. It has now opened at No. 1 on Billboard’s chart, with the distinction of being the first release to reach the top primarily on the strength of streaming.
In its first seven days of wide availability “The Life of Pablo” (Def Jam) had 99.5 million streams in the United States, as well as 28,000 sales, according to Nielsen and Billboard, making the album Mr. West’s seventh consecutive No. 1. Using its formula of equating 1,500 song streams with one album sale, the magazine credits “Pablo” with the equivalent of 94,000 sales for the week, which means that 70 percent of its activity came from streaming. That is by far a record, beating Rihanna’s “Anti,” which three weeks ago scored nearly 45 percent of its total from streaming.
Well, based on the success of Rihanna and Kanye, album sales will be focused on streaming than physical sales--the future of the music industry.
KISS band member Gene Simmons recently stirred up a
discussion that’s generated a lot of response, stating that
he’s looking forward to the death of rap music, feeling that
something will eventually come along and replace it. That
has since evolved into discussion on whether rap and hip-
hop acts belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
something that new Rock Hall inductees N.W.A. addressed
during their induction speeches recently.
The conversation has continued beyond the Rock Hall induction, with Simmons and Ice Cube sharing opinions back and forth.
During their induction, MC Ren addressed Simmons directly,
stating, “Hip-hop is here forever — get used to it.”
Meanwhile, Ice Cube took on the broader topic of if rap
belongs in the Rock Hall, explaining, “The question is, ‘Are
we rock ‘n’ roll?’ and I say ‘You g–damn right we rock ‘n’
roll!’ Rock ‘n’ roll is not an instrument — rock ‘n’ roll is not
even a style of music. Rock ‘n’ roll is a spirit! A spirit that’s
been going since the blues, jazz, bebop, soul, R&B, rock ‘n’
roll, heavy metal, punk rock, and, yes, hip-hop!”
He continued, “What connects us all is that spirit — that’s
what connects us all is that spirit. Rock ‘n’ roll is not
conforming to the people who came before you, but creating
your own path in music and life.
That is rock ‘n’ roll and that is us. Rock ‘n’ roll is not
conforming, rock ‘n’ roll is outside the box and rock ‘n’ roll is
N.W.A.”
After the comments, Simmons fired back, stating via Twitter,
“Respectfully– let me know when @JimiHendrix gets into the
hip hop hall of fame. Then you’ll have a point. @icecube.”
But it didn’t stop there. Cube shot back, “@genesimmons
Who stole the soul? Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Chubby
Checkers help invent Rock ‘n’ Roll. We invent it. Y’all reprint
it.” Before Simmons continued, “Cube – I stand by my words
. Respect NWA, but when Led Zep gets into Rap Hall of
Fame, I will agree with your point.”
Here's the thing...Ice Cube is correct that hip-hop is part of
rock n' roll. The term rock n roll is a term that was created
based on the blues and R&B that was watered down or sped
up and covered by white artists (Elvis, Bill Haley, Pat Boone)
so it can be palatable to white audiences. So, hip-hop is part
of that lineage of hip hop using elements of rock n roll (ie
Sampling, bridging rap and rock etc.). So what Gene
Simmons is totally insane. To say he cant wait until Jimi
Hendrix or Led Zepplin gets into teh Rap Hall of Fame isnt
the point at all.
And the board chose NWA, so Simmons need to complain to
the board.
Of course they wont get inducted into the Rap Hall of Fame
bbecause their music isnt specific to the genre whereas hip
hop is a by product of the umbrella term rock n roll. And
another thing, why is a cartoon based rock group inducted in
the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in the first place?
Longtime syndicated American radio personality Doug Banks died Monday. He was 57. He was mainstay on V 103 in Chicago with the Doug Banks Morning Show. He died from complications of diabetes.
Among those mourning banks was Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
"With the passing of Doug Banks, Chicago has lost one of our most iconic radio voices," his office tweeted.
A fixture in urban radio for three decades, Banks is often mentioned alongside other format heavyweights like Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey.
Joyner and Banks worked together in the Windy City at WGCI -- Joyner on morning drive and Banks in the afternoon.
"Doug Banks wasn't just my Turntable Brother, he was my other brother!" Joyner said on Instagram. "See you on the other side Doug."
St. Louis had its Opening Day of the St. Louis Cardinals Monday as over 47,600 people attended to see the Cards beat the Milwaukee Brewers 10-1. But the highlight was before the game started when legendary Cards player Lou Brock threw out the first pitch.
Brock’s leg was amputated earlier this year because of an infection caused by complications from diabetes. Wearing a prosthesis, Brock reportedly walked from home plate to about halfway to the mound and threw a strike to Cardinals catching great Ted Simmons, a former teammate.
Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/sports/article71270347.html#storylink=cpy
Nelly held his 10th Annual Black and White Ball that had taken place Sunday at the Four Seasons in downtown St Louis. This year’s affair was headlined by rapper T-Pain with St. Louis band Dirty Muggs, and DJ Charlie Chan Soprano opening. Former St Louis Rams Orlando Pace and Make-A-Wish Missouri were recognized for their achievements in the NFL and honoring two recipients respectively. Other celebrity guests who attended were rapper/actor Shad "Bow Wow" Ross, music producer Jermaine Dupri, and Olympic champion Jackie Joyner Kersee. The event was produced by SYNERGY Productions. To see a recap of the event go to
