Tag: All Star Weekend

L.A. Leakers Rewind: Feb 13th – 19th

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It was a big week for music but even a bigger one for the culture.

GRAMMY RECAP

Hip-hop made its mark at the 58th Grammy Awards, as Kendrick Lamar shattered Eminem’s record for Grammy nominations with 11 of his own.

K. Dot became the first hip-hop artist with that many nominations and took home five of those, not bad for a “good kid” from a “m.A.A.d city” like Compton.

Aside from the record-breaking nominations and awards, Kendrick gave the audience a historic performance, showing he was worthy of earning the Grammy for Best Performance.

His performance displayed the electrifying jazziness his songs featured on ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ embody, as he hobbled, shackled up across the stage.

Kendrick showed the detail he puts in his performances which has led him to his superstardom state.

From the dark purple swollen bruises on his face, to the look of a modern-day slave, to the African sax melody, it was as explosive as a Dr. Dre song.

Check out the performance:

Shoutout to the TDE.

A$AP Rocky paid major homage to the late A$AP Yams, as he hit the Grammy red carpet with Yams’ mother:

https://twitter.com/thacelebritea/status/699447811612545024

Unfortunately for Rocky he didn’t take home the Grammy for his song “L$D,” was nominated for Best Music Video. BIg ups on the nomination though.

Taylor Swift continued her Grammy dominance winning multiple awards including Album Of The Year for ‘1989.’

There were no Kanye West interruptions during her acceptance speech this time around, although she did throw shade at ‘Ye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPOPtQIEQt0

The Grammys are way too long of a show to air everything, so naturally things got cut out.

One of the biggest non-televised events of the night in my opinion, was the tribute to Run DMC, as they were given a lifetime achievement award.

Being that Run DMC was the first hip-hop act to EVER be nominated for a Grammy, it should’ve been aired. It would’ve made it an even bigger night for the culture. An EPIC one.

Here are some of the biggest award winners of the 58th Grammys:

Song Of The Year – Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

Album Of The Year – 1989, Taylor Swift

Best New Artist – Meghan Trainor

Record Of The Year – Mark Ronson f. Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk”

Best Music Video – Taylor Swift f/ Kendrick Lamar, “Bad Blood”

Rap Album of the Year – To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar

Best Rap Performance – Kendrick Lamar, “Alright”

Best Rap Song – Kendrick Lamar, “Alright”

Best Rap Performance – Kendrick Lamar, “Alright”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration – Kendrick Lamar, “These Walls,”

Best Pop Solo Performance – Ed Sheeran, “Thinking Out Loud”

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance – “Uptown Funk,” Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars

Best Pop Vocal Album – 1989, Taylor Swift

Best R&B Performance – “Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey),” the Weeknd

Best Traditional R&B Performance – “Little Ghetto Boy,” Lalah Hathaway

Best R&B Song – “Really Love,” D’Angelo and Kendra Foster, songwriters (D’Angelo and the Vanguard)

Best Urban Contemporary Album – Beauty Behind the Madness, the Weeknd

Best R&B Album – Black Messiah, D’Angelo and the Vanguard

Best Dance Recording – “Where Are U Now,” Skrillex and Diplo with Justin Bieber

Best Dance/Electronic Album – Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U, Skrillex and Diplo​

SLAM DUNK!!

From awards to awards, the more physical of the two, was the NBA Slam Dunk contest hosted at the Air Canada Centre in the 6ix.

This year’s participants were: Zach LaVine from the Minnesota T’wolves, Aaron Gordon from the Orlando Magic, Andre Drummond of the Detroit Pistons and Will Barton of the Denver Nuggets.

The two that left a lasting impression on spectators were; Air Gordon and the reigning Slam Dunk Contest champion, Zach LaVine.

In the final round the two faced-off and there were some high expectations (no pun intended).

LaVine put on a vintage MJ dunk as he went thru the legs, then around the back and took one to the hole from the free-throw line.

Gordon, took one-off the Magic’s mascot one-handed into a 360, then a backhanded dunk off the rim to the hole.

The best dunk of the night was Gordon’s in my opinion. He flew in the air over the mascot and took the ball under his legs in a sitting formation.

It still wasn’t enough to grab him the trophy.

LaVine ended up taking the award and being crowned the NBA Slam Dunk Champion in “back-to-back” years. Very fitting with Drake in attendance and no sign of Meek.

Check out the highlights of the competition:

Do you think LaVine earned it? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us. We “wanna know.” (no pun)

KOBE’S LAST ALL-STAR GAME

The Black Mamba is celebrating his last season in the NBA and Sunday’s All-Star game marked his last one.

Kobe was the leading vote-getter coming into the game, earning his starting spot in the lineup.

The crowd shouted his name as he got introduced and ran into the smoke-filled court.

Multiple current NBA All-Stars showed their love and admiration during the game and in the press conferences.

Another Laker legend, Magic Johnson even walked to the center of the court to introduce a tribute video for Kobe, which highlighted some big moments in his All-Star career.

It was a very exciting site to see as he got guarded by LeBron James and vice-versa and even posted up former teammate, Pau Gasol.

Here are some of the highlights from Kobe’s last All-Star Game:



Being the host you know Drizzy Drake had to pay his respects:

WRITTEN BY: BRYAN MELARA – @beeroxx90