This past weekend at ComplexCon there were too many great panels where some BIG names spread knowledge and shared a lot of gems. One of the most coveted panels was Kendrick Lamar and Kobe Bryant’s discussion with Jinx from Complex.
Both LA heavyweights discussed their evolution, their greatness, stardom, becoming staples in their respective fields, their drive, the competitive nature of both rapping and basketball, and a lot more. Lamar also talked about the transition from K. Dot to Kung-Fu Kenny.
On the debut of Beats1’s “FreeBandz Gang Radio,” Future dropped a solo-version of Drake’s single “Grammys,” which was featured on ‘Views’.
The solo version includes an additional verse from Future with Drake’s verse being flushed out. There is also some small alterations to the instrumental.
This should come as no surprise, as Future just dropped his self-titled album that includes no features. Interestingly enough, at the start of the year Future sent out a series of tweets alluding that 2017 it would be him against the everyone else.
Me & esco against the world…ion trust none of these people! They all greedy
Future will kick off his “Nobody Safe Tour” with Migos, Tory Lanez, and Kodak Black beginning May 4th in Memphis. A$AP Ferg and Young Thug will also perform at select dates. Get more info HERE.
Press play below to listen to Future’s solo version of “Grammys” below. Let us know which version of “Grammys” you like better in the comments below.
Uncle Snoop Dogg drops the visuals for his single “Legend” off his 14th album ‘COOLAID’, which he released late last year.
The video starts with a preview of his upcoming “COOLAID” movie expected to be released in the coming months. Following the preview the OG goes on to rap about his iconic, legendary status while he dances around. In the video you will also see clips of Snoop kicking it with another LA Legend, Kobe Bryant.
‘COOLAID’ includes features from a wide range of artists like Wiz Khalifa, Jeremih, Swizz Beatz, Suga Free, Too $hort, and others.
The Game has always been a major advocate for change on social issues in America. Just last week he along with Snoop Dogg and Problem led a peaceful rally in LA and met with the Mayor, Eric Garcetti and LAPD Chief, Charlie Beck in hopes of unifying LA.
This week, Game joined Power 106’s J. Cruz and Yesi Ortiz for a special edition of #KnowledgeIsPower, where he along with Nick Cannon, Dr. Abdullah, and Wendy Carrillo talked about the ongoing race issues in America and the definition of #BlackLivesMatter.
Following the conversation Game delivered a very powerful spoken word speech that he tirelessly worked on and fell asleep writing “so, it may sound unfinished at the end.” Read the lyrics to the unnamed piece below.
Game’s Spoken Word Lyrics
The problem started with our fathers being forced to sell drugs to our own people given to us by the same government that locks us away in cages. Taking black men out of the ghettos they were put in and leaving the black woman and child alone to survive in a world with little or no resources because they lack the strength instilled upon man by God who as our creator knowing which roll the male species will play in building of what we now know as the earth. We were put here to share this one race, the human race, but over time the devil in his hatred of God as caused a wedge between man and the earth or a glitch in the matrix as some would say causing a ripple in the bloodlines of Black, White, Asian, Spanish and Indian cultures causing a segregated lifestyle in which the minority, yes the minority, it being us, African-Americans has surfed the most in all areas deemed inhumane from being slaves tied in chains to slaves hung by gangs.
These gangs, the American government, and KKK are now equal to African-Americans when we roll up and pull out a KKK. But who are we pointing our guns at? Each other, our sister and our brothers, but we scared, yeah we scared to point it in the direction of others. But the white man he’ll walk in church and kill our aunties and our mothers and we just lay down in streets cold and stiff under white covers. The same covers the Klu Klux Klan wore over their over heads to do us in then we get pulled over by the police and they wonder why we got guns because you ain’t gonna shot us man.
We want to defend ourselves like Mutombo, we want to be at home reading our children Micky Mouse and Dumbo, we want pardons by Obama before he gone, so we make it home just in time for grandmothers gumbo, but it won’t happen cause even Barack don’t have the freedom that he wants. He in the white house with black skin, I’d rather be out in the front, but his daughters, beautiful young black queens, living the American dream while our daughters are on the other side of the fence getting pregnant in their teens and I do not blame our President for sh**. I blame the government for trying to ease the black man since our existence.
This fight has been fixed it is a trap, yeah it is a trap black man, set up so we can never be as rich as Bruce Wayne that only leaves us with Batman, a character in a mask that has to hide his identity. Do all the work for police killing minorities saving them time and a whole lot of energy and we got enemies, we got a lot of enemies government want to see us all in the penitentiary trying to put the slave black in a n*****. You know they’ll murder us. Look how they did John Kennedy. So black man please put the blunt down, the lean and the Hennessy. It’s time to father our future so our existence is more than just a memory.
CHANCE HONORS MOHAMMAD ALI AT ESPYS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3Pu-iJV0vs
Chance The Rapper flawlessly paid homage to Muhammad Ali with a real soulful tribute at the ESPN ESPY Awards. In the process, Chance also debuted a new song while Ali’s greatest moments flickered on the jumbotron.
“Ain’t nowhere greater,” he sang. “Ain’t nowhere brighter / Ain’t nowhere better / Ain’t no one prettier / Ain’t no one wiser / Ain’t no one better.”
Chance then proceeds with the touching chorus: “I was a rock/ I was a rock and roller/ Back in my day/ But now I’m just a rock/ I was a rock and roller/ Back in my day/ But now I’m just a rock/ I was a rock.”
On stage joining Lil Chano was Jamila Woods, Peter Cottontale, Teddy Jackson, Donnie Trumpet and a full choir that added depth and emotion to the performance.
See Chance’s pre-performance warm-up with NBA MVP, Steph Curry below.
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) July 14, 2016
Following the show he expressed his gratitude for Ali. What a great moment for Chance, whom although independent has accomplished some real big things.
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) July 14, 2016
RICH HOMIE QUAN BLOWS BIGGIE TRIBUTE
The best way Rich Homie Quan honored the Notorious B.I.G. last night at VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors, was not by performing “Get Money,” but by wearing a Coogi sweater and a pair of Timberland boots.
Quan hit the stage with Lil’Kim to honor Big Poppa but was better off staying on the sidelines. Not even sure why Quan was picked to honor Biggie. I can think of atleast 10 other guys who would’ve fit that bill better.
It is clear that the hip-hop world is feeling “Some Type Of Way” after watching that horrendous tribute. Check out some of the Internet’s reaction below.
Kobe Bryant celebrated his final NBA season with an epic 60-point game. On Thursday he was awarded with the “Legend” award at the Nickolodeon’s Kids Choice Sport awards.
Bryant was brought on stage by Zendaya to receive the award.
Following his motivating speech at the event, he was covered with golden slime. The Black Mamba matched the 16 NBA championships he won in his career with the slime.
Watch the full event on Nickolodeon tomorrow night.
Kobe Bryant has teamed up with brilliant Nike designer, Tinker Hatfield for his next Kobe 11 colorway, inspired by the Black Mamba’s favorite sneaker, the Air Jordan 3 “Black Cement.”
Hatfield is the mastermind behind several Nike Air Jordan sneaker designs, which Kobe says he grew up idolizing.
The detail-oriented Kobe 11 “Tinker Muse” feature a black and white flyknit upper, with a red Nike swoosh across the side. On the inner part of the tongue you will find autographs from both Kobe and Tinker.
The Kobe Bryant x Tinker Hatfield collab look crazy! Signature inside the tongue tho! 🔥🔥🔥🐍 pic.twitter.com/4JYxgUGl6d
MAMBA OUT!
Kobe went out with a bang in his last game! The Black Mamba ended his illustrious career in the best way he possibly could by scoring 60 points with four boards and four dimes.
His 60 point performance made it the most exciting game the Lakers played all season and brought an electrifying energy to the Staples Center, which wasn’t there all year long.
Of course the stars were in attendance to catch the ending of an era in LA. Everybody from Kanye West to Jay-Z to Kendrick Lamar to G-Eazy to George Lopez, the list goes on.
Ticket prices for the once-in-lifetime event were outrageous but anybody that experienced the moment can tell you every dollar was worth it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzpsyFvz7W0
Genuine basketball fans anticipated Kobe’s final game would be a very special one. However, nobody expected it to be as epic as the 60 point performance the Black Mamba had. Mamba out!
Last night was the final chapter to an incredible story. I walk away at peace knowing my love for the game & this city will never be broken.
WARRIORS SURPASS BULLS
The Golden State Warriors entered the season with one goal, that goal was simply to repeat as champions. As the season progressed, they continued to consistently win games and on Wednesday night they got their biggest win of the year, 73.
Their 73rd win of the season broke the ’95-’96 Chicago Bulls’ record for most wins in a single-season.
That Bulls team is viewed today as one of the best teams in history, so that is saying something about this year’s Warriors.
Although it’s been a record-breaking season for the Warriors, they have a long road in the playoffs and will focus on the goal they came into the season with, to repeat.
N.W.A. INDUCTED TO ROCK & ROLL HOF
One of the biggest outlaw groups in the history of hip-hop and also the pioneers of gangsta rap, N.W.A., were one of the biggest names in this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class.
Although there have been other hip-hop names notably Run DMC, Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys, N.W.A. are the first west coasters to get such honors.
It’s been long overdue for N.W.A. to get such honors as they were insturmental in inflating very controversial subjects and became villains for doing so.
Thru time the vindication they faced made them in some ways heroic figures and a voice for the “hood.”
Of course when you’re winning there’s always somebody trying to hate on your victory. Gene Simmons came out to say the rap group shouldn’t have been inducted because they aren’t “rock & roll.”
One thing is for certain, they did live like rock stars.
KHALED SIGNS ANOTHER ONE
DJ Khaled has had a very good year to say the least and it’s not even summer yet.
From signing to Roc Nation to getting a deal with Apple Music and earning a show, it’s been a very successful year.
The DJ goes on snap everyday and emphasizes that he is “up to something” on the daily. Those words have proved to be very factual as he has signed yet another contract, this time with L.A. Reid’s Epic Music.
April 13th is officially #MambaDay with Kobe playing his final NBA game of his storied 20-year career.
All his accolades have made him a supreme international megastar. Whether it’s the five rings, the countless 40-point games or the notorious 81-point game, his fearless attitude has made him one of the most hated outside of LA. The hate has only fueled him to go even harder on the court, shut his critics up and gained him fans.
Kobe has always put on for the culture and has been referenced by rappers in plenty of songs. Kanye, Lil Weezy and Jay-Z are only a few of the rappers to show him love on a track.
To celebrate Kobe’s career and show appreciation for the Black Mamba, I’ve gathered 10 of the best references in my opinion.
10) “Went by any means, who said it best?/Kobe Bryant mind state, I’m shootin’ til I’m accurate” —Jay Rock on “Numbers on the Board (Freestyle)”
9) “My mansion sittin’ on 40 acres/Who da neighbors?/Kobe Bryant from the Lakers/Now that’s paper” —Juicy J on “Who Da Neighbors”
8) “I’m tryin’ to see a hundred of ’em/Kobe Bryant money, nigga you ain’t gotta love him” —Rick Ross on “Numb”
RETRO 8) “I might be in a Lex watching the game tonight/I got a hundred on Kobe, hope he playing it right” —Lil Wayne on “Young Playa”
7) “Come around my way boy, you’d never last it, Kobe Bryant of the rap game, nigga never pass” —Lil B on “The Best”
6) “Tryna get that Kobe number, one over Jordan” —Kanye West on “Swagga Like Us”
5) “And when it comes down to the recording/I must be LeBron James if he’s Jordan/No, I won rings for my performance/I’m more Kobe Bryant of an artist” —Lil Wayne on “Dough Is What I Got”
4) “Hundred thousand in one pocket, I get paid like I’m Kobe/When these fuck boys play games, man I just play like I’m Kobe” —Chief Keef on “Kobe”
3) “We hit the spot to chill with the Fuji Grill/She ordered the Kobe beef like Shaquille O’Neal” —Kanye West on “Back Like That (Remix)”
2) “Where my ring and my confetti, I’m Kobe Bryant ready/Pink Rose and chronic smelly while I’m stumbling out the telly” —Lloyd Banks on “Beamer, Benz, or Bentley”
1) “MVP, MVP/Kobe Bryant AKA Envy Me/In knee deep, smash any D/Whoever he is, he can’t guard me” —Lil Wayne on “Kobe Bryant”
Thank you for all the memories, Kobe. We’ll miss you!
The day Angelino’s have dreaded forever is finally here. Kobe’s last game in the NBA is tomorrow (Wednesday). Our good friend, Manny Fresh, is a HUGE Lakers fan and wanted to come by and give us his top 10 Kobe moments. Keep in mind, everyone’s top 10 is probably different, these are MANNY’S TOP 10 MOMENTS. Feel free to comment below on your favorite Kobe moment. Find us on Twitter/IG: @LALeakers & @MannyFreshLA.
It’s no secret how much Kobe Bryant means to the people of L.A. and all Laker aficionados.
In case you don’t know of Kobe’s legacy, Kendrick Lamar teamed up with ESPN’s Scoop Jackson to perform a special tribute for the Laker legend called, “Kobe Bryant: Fade to Black.”
The tribute is mixed with K. Dot’s Untitled 07 better known as “Levitate” off of his ‘Untitled Unmastered.’
Kendrick poetically highlights some of the Mamba’s biggest moments in the video, as he paces around the Forum in Inglewood, where the Lakers played until the ’99-’00 season.
Kobe will play his final game at home against the Utah Jazz Wednesday and will be aired on ESPN2.
Wayne then reposted the image on Twitter, writing, “Believe me.” Tha Carter 5 was supposed to drop on May 5th , but it no longer has an official release date.
Kobe Bryant hit up the Westfield Mall in Culver City to promote his new Kobe 9 Elite shoe. Thousands of Lakers fans showed up to see the Black Mamba in person. Kobe talked about striking back at all the haters next season, the Mamba mentality, his swag, his new shoe & more.
Listen to the entire interview here, and check out all the great pics! (courtesy of Axis Phography: Charlie Lopez)
Being a huge Lakers fan The Game called the #LIFTOFF to J Cruz and Justin Credible about Dwight Howard. Game told us what he thought about Kobe unfollowing Dwight, about Ice Cube telling Dwight off, his message to Metta World Peace and about what Snoop thinks about the whole situation.
If you missed the interview listen below.
If you missed the #DwightCowardMix last night you can listen and download it below.
![Kendrick Lamar & Kobe Bryant Discuss Their Evolution To Greatness [WATCH]](https://LosAngelesLeakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/r285196_766x431_16-9.jpg)
![Future Drops Solo Version Of “Grammys” [LISTEN]](https://LosAngelesLeakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/11821179_1478243319145837_1005748270_n.jpg)
![New Video: Snoop Dogg – “Legend” [WATCH]](https://LosAngelesLeakers.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/new-video-snoop-dogg-legend-watc.jpg)
