Month: August 2020

22 of the NBA’s 30 teams completed an eight-pack of seeding games and, for the most part, the quality of play was top-notch. Unfortunately for the league, some of the drama of playoff positioning evaporated before the final day but, in contrast, basketball observers were treated to a wildly entertaining play-in game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Before the playoff begin on Monday, it is time to wrap up the seeding games and put them in a shiny bow. As was the case with the first two editions of our DIME power rankings from the Bubble, these are Bubble-only considerations and, well, that becomes quite obvious right out of the gate.

Here we go.

1. Phoenix Suns (8-0, Last week — 1st)

The Suns didn’t make it to the playoffs. In fact, Phoenix didn’t even make it to the play-in tournament. Still, Monty Williams, Devin Booker and company put on quite a show in Orlando, going undefeated and putting legitimate pressure on the Blazers and Grizzlies. These are Bubble-only rankings and, well, nobody has a better profile at Walt Disney World than the Suns.

2. Toronto Raptors (7-1, Last week — 2nd)

Despite the reality of a locked-in seed, the Raptors posted the best defensive rating in Orlando by a comfortable margin. In some ways, that shouldn’t be a surprise, but Toronto’s 7-1 mark speaks for itself. They were very good in the seeding games and enter the playoffs feeling very good about things.

3. Portland Trail Blazers (7-2, Last week — 5th)

Technically, the play-in game didn’t count in the standings, but Portland really won seven of their nine games before the playoffs. Damian Lillard was absolutely unbelievable and, with a spot in the postseason on the line, C.J. McCollum and company also stepped up. It will be tough sledding against the Lakers, but the Blazers took care of business and now at least have a shot at a shocking playoff run.

4. Boston Celtics (5-3, Last week — 4th)

Boston essentially punted the finale against Washington but, before that, the Celtics were playing at a high level. Boston finished only behind Phoenix in terms of net rating in the seeding games and, without high-level injury concerns that plague some other teams, the Celtics are in fine shape ahead of their first round matchup with the Sixers.

5. L.A. Clippers (5-3, Last week — 8th)

The Clippers haven’t been able to deploy their entire roster yet. That’s a bit of a concern with a deep playoff run looming but, on the bright side, they have been good even while missing pieces. Everyone is now in the Bubble, and soon we should see Doc Rivers deploy his full rotation.

6. Brooklyn Nets (5-3, Last week — 11th)

Not only did the Nets finish above .500 in the seeding games, but Brooklyn managed to keep the No. 7 seed despite having arguably the least impressive roster of available players. Shouts to Jacque Vaughn for getting this group to buy in, and the Nets nearly kept the Blazers out of the playoffs with their feistiness.

7. Indiana Pacers (6-2, Last week — 9th)

A blowout loss to the Heat may be a harbinger of ugliness to come but, from a Bubble standpoint, Indiana played well. It is probably fair to assume that T.J. Warren isn’t the best player in the NBA, but he was quietly good before the shutdown in March and the Pacers were operating without Domantas Sabonis.

8. San Antonio Spurs (5-3, Last week — 6th)

The Spurs had a puncher’s chance to reach the play-in game and they nearly pulled it off. Gregg Popovich’s team played quite well for the most part in Orlando and, with a break here or there, the famed playoff streak could still be alive.

9. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-4, Last week — 10th)

Oklahoma City didn’t need to put the pedal to the floor in the seeding games, and they largely didn’t. At the same time, there were encouraging signs, particularly in the development of Darius Bazley and the presence of Andre Roberson. The Thunder should be more than frisky in the first round against Houston.

10. Houston Rockets (4-4, Last week — 3rd)

Speaking of Houston, it was a largely unremarkable run for the Rockets in the seeding games, and that is fine. James Harden is (very) good but, if Russell Westbrook misses most or all of the first round series against OKC with a quad injury, the Rockets could be in for a big-time battle.

11. Milwaukee Bucks (3-5, Last week — 13th)

Milwaukee didn’t need to care about their performance in the seeding games. At all. The Bucks still played their guys at times, to largely positive results, but any consternation about Milwaukee’s showing is probably overblown. They’re still good.

12. Los Angeles Lakers (3-5, Last week — 15th)

The sentiment shared about the Bucks above also applies to the Lakers, at least to some degree. With that said, Los Angeles really didn’t play well at times, leading to some blazing takes on the internet. When the lights come on, LeBron and company should be fine, but they also don’t have a ton of lineups that everyone loves at the highest levels.

13. Philadelphia 76ers (4-4, Last week — 14th)

Without Ben Simmons, it is tough to pick the Sixers in the first round against the Celtics. In terms of Bubble-only evaluation, Philadelphia was generally fine-ish, though unimpressive in the grand scheme.

14. Miami Heat (3-5, Last week — 7th)

When it mattered, the Heat sent quite a message by thumping the Pacers. Other than that, however, it wasn’t a tremendous run for Miami in the seeding games. The Heat did make the change to start Bam Adebayo at center, though, and that is a wrinkle they project to lean on as the playoffs continue.

15. Dallas Mavericks (3-5, Last week — 12th)

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Dallas was really good on offense in the seeding games. Dallas was also really bad on defense in the seeding games. Some of that is noise with altered/limited lineups, but the Mavericks are going to have to figure out how to get stops in a hurry if they want to threaten the Clippers.

16. Denver Nuggets (3-5, Last week — 16th)

In the spirit of bad defense, we have the Nuggets! Denver finished dead-last in the seeding games in defensive rating, allowing 121.7 points per 100 possessions, and it felt ghastly at times. On the bright side, the showcasing of Michael Porter Jr. has inspired confidence in Denver’s offensive upside, and they do have a winnable first-round matchup in a shorthanded Utah team.

17. Utah Jazz (3-5, Last week — 18th)

Without Bojan Bogdanovic, expectations were measured for the Jazz as the restart began. Through eight games, it appears those expectations may have been accurate, with Utah struggling a bit to a 3-5 mark. Donovan Mitchell did explode late in the process, though, and he is capable of carrying the Jazz on the offensive end when it counts.

18. Memphis Grizzlies (2-6, Last week — 20th)

Memphis put together a quality performance in the play-in, nearly outlasting the Blazers to force a second game. Before that, however, the Grizzlies really struggled, and their built-in advantage for the No. 8 seed crumbled as a result. They’ll be back, but it was clear by the end that Memphis wasn’t operating as a playoff-level team, especially with a limited roster.

19. Orlando Magic (3-5, Last week — 17th)

Well, the Magic made the playoffs. Their prize is a matchup against the Bucks. Best of luck.

20. Sacramento Kings (3-5, Last week — 21st)

To their credit, the Kings didn’t just pack it up after they were eliminated. Sacramento won their last two games, albeit against opponents that weren’t invested, and their overall statistical profile improved as a result. The Kings were still a disappointment, but it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been and now major organizational changes are coming.

21. New Orleans Pelicans (2-6, Last week — 19th)

Thanks for nothing, Pelicans. New Orleans was featured on national television throughout the process but, in the end, the Pelicans put together a listless performance that they will want to forget as quickly as possible. It just wasn’t great.

22. Washington Wizards (1-7, Last week — 22nd)

With Bradley Beal and Davis Bertans out of action, the Wizards had the worst available roster in the bubble and the results displayed their weaknesses. Washington did end on a high note with a win over an unmotivated Celtics team, though, and it was nice that every team garnered at least one victory in Orlando.

As widely expected, Barcelona have fired head coach Quique Setien following their humiliating 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League quarter finals. Setien leaves the club after just eight months at the helm, and after a season in which Barcelona lost out on the La Liga title race, got eliminated from the Copa Del Rey in February and fell short in the Champions League for the fifth year in a row.

Setien was never the right choice for Barcelona, with his inexperience and gutless tactics, but the truth is Barcelona wouldn’t have returned to glory no matter who was giving orders on the sideline.

Setien was Barcelona’s fourth manager in six seasons; fans greeted, celebrated and then disgustedly called for the departures of Tata Martino, Luis Enrique, Ernesto Valverde and now the 61-year-old Setien. The club is rumored to go after ex-Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino, Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman or even Xavi, their former midfield maestro. But does it matter who comes next if Barcelona does not address the problems that permeate through every facet of the club, from the top down?

Barcelona’s humiliating crash out of the Champions League this year was not a surprise to anyone. The signs were there in Rome in 2018 and in Liverpool last year. The red flags waved even more strongly this season with losses to Granada, Levante and Osasuna, proving that Barcelona could no longer perform — whether it’s a cold night on the Spanish coast or under the bright lights of Europe. But the Board, whether out of sheer hubris or absolute idiocy, ignored all the signs. In five short (or long) years, they destroyed a club that was once the model of success around the world. And in doing so, they cruelly wasted precious years of Lionel Messi’s career.

Gerard Pique is right: after Friday’s loss to Bayern Munich, the veteran defender said the Catalan club had hit “rock bottom.” Poor transfer decisions as the club has spent 800 million euros on players since the 2015 transfer window on an aging roster full of players who don’t seem to be able to compete anymore, and deficient tactics have led to this point. If Barcelona is to return to the level and success of the years between 2008 and 2014 — a time when teams feared lining up against the Catalan giants and fans raved about the tiki taka style of play — then a complete overhaul must take place — and that starts with the removal of club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who has held the role since 2014.

With Bartomeu still in charge, it doesn’t really matter who the next manager is. This Barcelona is no longer the Barcelona of old. Under electrifying manager Pep Guardiola, the team flourished. Under Bartomeu, a corrupt and inept president, the club has collapsed.

After its surprise announcement and release 24 hours later, Taylor Swift’s Folklore had a monster first week, the album raking in 846,000 equivalent album units — a feat that gave her the most No. 1 debuts and the third-most No. 1 albums among female artists. She scored the top spot for a second consecutive week, and now she’s done it a third time.

In landing a third week at No. 1, Swift becomes the first woman to spend her first three weeks at No. 1 since 2018, after Lady Gaga did the same with her A Star Is Born joint album with Bradley Cooper. Swift’s continued reign can be credited to the newly-released CD edition of Folklore. The feat also makes her the second overall artist to spend their first three weeks at the top of the Billboard albums charts, after The Weeknd spent four weeks at No. 1 following the release of his After Hours album. Prior to The Weeknd, the last album to achieve this was Drake’s 2018 album Scorpion, which spent its first five weeks atop the charts.

Swift’s latest feat comes a day after she publicly criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of USPS issues in a pair of tweets. “Donald Trump’s ineffective leadership gravely worsened the crisis that we are in and he is now taking advantage of it to subvert and destroy our right to vote and vote safely,” she wrote in her post. “Request a ballot early. Vote early.”

(via Billboard)

The 2020 WNBA regular season is in full flow, with games every day and plenty of action. This week, the Seattle Storm stayed atop the league standings with some utterly dominant performances, the Connecticut Sun showed signs of life and Minnesota got hit with the injury bug while Phoenix got Diana Taurasi back healthy.

Here’s everything we learned from week three in the WNBA:

1. The Seattle Storm are absolutely unstoppable

The Seattle Storm proved that they are far and away the greatest team in this league right now, with eight straight wins — making it the longest regular-season streak for Seattle since they won 13 straight in 2010, when they won the championship. They are sitting pretty atop the league standings with a 10-1 record — their best season start in franchise history — and have shown no signs of slowing down.

Sue Bird returned in a rout of the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday, finishing with nine points and seven assists in the 100-63 win. In that game, the Storm reached 100 points for the first time since 2018 and in doing so, they tied the WNBA record of 18 three-pointers in a game — set last year by the Washington Mystics. Breanna Stewart continues to play like an MVP (reminder: this is her first WNBA season back from an Achilles injury) and Sami Whitcomb has been electric from beyond the arc.

2. How will the Minnesota Lynx fare without Sylvia Fowles?

When Sylvia Fowles limped off with a calf injury during Thursday’s game against the Las Vegas Aces, the biggest question was how the Lynx would fare without their leader. Well, if Saturday night’s game against the New York Liberty was any indication, they’ll do just fine with Napheesa Collier in the kind of form she showed this weekend.

The 6’1 forward has quickly grown into such an important figure for the Lynx, and that was evident in how she took control of what could’ve been a shaky game for the team. In the win, she earned her second consecutive double-double, exploding for 26 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. Rookie guard Crystal Dangerfield had another strong performance as well, scoring 22 points on 75% shooting. If the two Minnesota youngsters keep putting up strong numbers, the Lynx should be able to stay in the top half of the standings — they’re currently fourth with a 7-3 overall record.

3. DeWanna Bonner is shining for the Sun

As previously noted, DeWanna Bonner has really hit the ground running in her first season with the Connecticut Sun. She is the fifth-highest scorer in the league this season, averaging 18.7 points per game along with 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.6 steals. This season, she’s also leading on both ends of the floor, shooting 41% from the field while maintaining a strong presence in the paint with her rebounding and blocks.

The Sun, though, have had a bumpy road so far in Florida. On Sunday, the team went 3-of-20 from beyond the arc in a 95-72 loss to the Seattle Storm. The Sun looked to be finding some rhythm with three consecutive wins this week against Atlanta, Dallas and Chicago before falling to the Storm. Connecticut currently sits in eight place, occupying the last playoff spot, but there’s no guarantee they’ll keep their spot unless they start being more consistent. The good news, though, is they seem to have a clear top star to rally around in Bonner.

4. The Washington Mystics have officially hit reality

At the beginning of the 2020 season, the Washington Mystics defied everyone’s expectations by winning their three straight opening games and becoming the only undefeated team in the league. Misha Hines-Allen, Aerial Powers, Emma Meesseman and Ariel Atkins had put the team on their backs in the absences of Elena Delle Donne, Natasha Cloud and Kristi Toliver, who left for Los Angeles in the offseason.

But the honeymoon phase is over for the reigning champions, who have lost their last seven games. Powers is out with a hamstring injury, and the team brought in Stella Johnson to replace her. But this season is likely lost for the team, and head coach Mike Thibault seems to be eagerly looking to next year. It was always difficult to imagine this team, without so many key players, maintaining its hot start to the season — especially in such a tightly packed season.

5. Give us all the Wubble kids content

WNBA players were allowed to bring their children to Bradenton, Florida for the 2020 regular season, and the content that we have gotten from the kids’ time in the Wubble has been absolutely precious. Phoenix Mercury guard Bria Hartley’s three-year-old son, Bryson, seems to have taken up photography in his spare time and the results are glorious. The Mercury’s social media accounts are laden with Bryson photos and it’s too cute to handle.

Dearica Hamby of the Las Vegas Aces brought her daughter, Amaya, to the Wubble, with the young Hamby eating Fruit Loops on the sidelines, enjoying some time in the swimming pool and even taking part in postgame interviews. Over with the Connecticut Sun, Bria Holmes’ “Baby D,” has stolen all the attention with her adorable outfits and infectious smile. All of the Wubble kids are too cute, and they deserve the world.

Saturday marked what would’ve been Nipsey Hussle’s 35th birthday. A number of celebrities took to social media to remember the celebrated hip-hop figure. Among those were Kehlani, who sent out a tweet reading “happy birthday big nip.” LeBron posted a tweet that said, “Bumping Nip All Day Long/Night!! Happy G-Day! I know you gone have one helluva shindig in Paradise today!” YG, Meek Mill, Fabolous, and more also shared posts commemorating Nipsey’s birthday on Instagram. And Lauren London, Nipsey’s widow, shared a heartfelt tribute to her late husband.

Sharing a black and white picture of Nipsey, London kept her message short and sweet as she mentioned the roles Nipsey played in her life.

King Ermias
Best friend
Twin Flame
Greatest Teacher
Beautiful Strong Vessel
The Spiritual Giant that walked Earth.
“I Miss You” will never be deep enough for the void left in my soul.
Yet, I know you walk with me- always still.
Happy 35th
Eternally Yours, Boogie

London’s words arrived just a day after Snoop Dogg celebrated Nipsey’s birthday by taking things a step further, dropping his “Nipsey Blue” song in honor of the late rapper.

You can view London’s Instagram post above.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

A number of Comedians have always imagined themselves as truth-tellers, saying the things that most of “polite” society is afraid to say. That’s amped up during the Trump administration, and especially during a summer that’s given us both the pandemic and also the Black Lives Matter protests. Shortly after the killing of George Floyd, Dave Chappelle surprise released a new, short stand-up special, performed for a spartan, socially distancing crowd, in which he mostly kept things serious, speaking truth to power. Now, some two months later, Katt Williams has done something similar as Election Day gets closer and closer.

Ostensibly the comic’s set was a commercial, for the fashion line Supreme. But it was really an excuse for Williams to perform a set, lasting some seven minutes, to what looks like an empty crowd, his intended audience being those of us watching online. Williams did not hold back on the numerous ills that have turned the United States into a fractured, chaotic nightmare.

“If it doesn’t fit, it ain’t s*it. And things in this world are starting to not fit. Right now, we have a perfectly suitable clown running the free world,” he says in the ad. “We got a guy who’s advice included things that no decent crackhead would tell you to do with a gunshot wound.”

Williams addressed the protests that have been raging across the nation since late May. “Civil unrest is what happens every time a place is ruled by a people, and the people’s needs are not being met,” he said. He said he not only supported them, but was among the crowds.

“I’m not going to hide in a bunker. I’m on the front lines with you,” Williams said. He was optimistic about the passion displayed all over America. “Finally the chickens are coming home to roost. We are going to get rid of racism this time, once and for all, no matter what has to happen.”

Williams also discussed the pandemic, noting that it wasn’t the first one he’d experienced in his lifetime. That would be the AIDs crisis in the ’80s, which he said “filled up” Hart Island in the Bronx, an island used for mass burials. “It’s an airborne virus, folks,” he said. “If you breathe air, put on a mask.”

He then pivoted back to police brutality. “Because we can all agree breathing is important, we can all agree that you putting your knee on a man’s neck for eight minutes … It’s just murder,” Williams said.

At the end, he reminded viewers that comedians like him sometimes wind up having to step up when others won’t, saying, “I have already done more than an elected official.”

You can watch the full commercial/set in the tweet embedded above.

(Via Complex)

When the words “budget,” “cheap,” or even “inexpensive” are used to describe spirits, our minds quickly envision plastic handles of bottom-shelf, low-quality, hangover-inducing liquor. It’s a fair stigma — but not always the case. In fact, there are exceptions to this stereotype across the board. Especially in the world of rum.

Though the popularity of booze culture and mixology has increased in recent years (and spiked like crazy in quarantine), the rum marketplace is still full of superb value buys. You don’t even need to use the terms “budget” or “cheap.” The fact is, there are myriad bottles of low-cost, high-quality rum to be found.

To highlight rums that are worth every penny, we turned to some of our favorite bartenders. The slow sippers they named will turn your apartment into a tiki lounge in a hurry and make it feel like you’re maximizing your summer, even in a pandemic.

Brugal Anejo Rum

Ryan Andrews, beverage director at Prohibition in San Diego

What’s my favorite budget rum and why? Brugal Añejo rum. The Solera-style aging makes this rum incredibly smooth as a sipper and in cocktails.

Flor de Cana Grand Reserve 7 Year

Young Kim, beverage director at The Flatiron Room in New York City

I go with Flor de Cana Grand Reserve 7 Year which is priced around $20 and is not as sweet as many of the rums in the same price range. You can taste the vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch from the ex-bourbon barrel. That’s followed with a hint of leather, pencil shavings, and tobacco notes.

This bottle is smooth and full-bodied enough to sip or enjoy with ice. It also pairs perfectly in cocktails such as an Old Fashioned, Dark and Stormy, or Rum-groni [Rum Negroni].

Plantation Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple Rum

Casey Lyons, lead bartender at Pacific Hideaway in Huntington Beach, California

Plantation has changed the game [and will soon be changing its name]. Between the 3 Star and Stiggins’ Fancy Pineapple expressions, they not only make me look like a wizard with the budget, but they also make delicious crowd-pleasers for guests.

Ron del Barrilito Tres Estrellas

Spencer Elliott, head bartender at The Boogie Room in New York City

My favorite budget rum is a one-way JetBlue flight to Puerto Rico during non-quarantine times and a shot of Three Star (Ron De Barrilito Tres Estrellas). You can find this rum stateside, but, for a few bucks a shot, it’s well worth the flight and the inevitable sunburn.

Plantation 3 Stars

Jason O’Bryan, Spirits Director, The Florence in San Diego

What’s my go-to budget rum? Probably Plantation 3-Star. 3 Star is the brands version of a well-balanced, slightly punchier-than-normal blend of rums from Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. But honestly, any Spanish-style white rum is going to be great and inexpensive. Diplomatico, Flor de Cana, Ron Matusalem…budget rum is an embarrassment of riches.

Bacardi Gold Rum

Nikki McCutcheon, beverage manager at Moxy Times Square in New York City

My go-to would have to be Bacardi. They have such a wide selection of Rums for all occasions, whether you’re making daiquiris in the summer or coquito in the winter. Their moderate prices allow you to purchase a quality product and spend a little extra on fresh decadent mixers to make the perfect cocktail without breaking the bank.

Mount Gay Rum

Big Jon Conkin, Bartender at Wonderland Ocean Pub in San Diego

What’s my favorite budget rum and why? I’ve always been a fan of Mount Gay. Mixing or just sipping on, you can’t go wrong.

Pampero Aniversario Rum

Andrew Holmes, director of food and beverage at Hotel LeVeque in Columbus

What’s my go-to budget rum and why? Pampero Aniversario Rum — maybe not the absolute cheapest, but it never feels like the wrong pick.

Denizen 3 Year Aged White Rum

Andrew Meltzer, bartender at Noosh in San Francisco

Denizen Rum, either their 3-year white or Merchant’s Reserve. They are made with a blend of rums from Trinidad and Jamaica, so it’s smooth and fruity with a hint of funk. The price is equal to or less than a bottle of Bacardi, but there is much more flavor to be had. It’s the perfect companion to a hand-shaken Daiquiri or a bowl of punch for your next party.

Appleton Estate Signature

Hope Ewing, beverage director at Rappahannock Oyster Bar in Los Angeles

Go-to budget rum? My favorite flavor-for-the-money rum is Appleton Estate. It’s a terrific workhorse for tiki drinks and holds its own amidst those wild tiki flavors.

Baseball is a sport full of traditions, and one of the most time-honored of those traditions is managers screaming at umpires at close range. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may have made those arguments somewhat more socially distanced, of course, but they’re still happening as the MLB season continues.

On Sunday, however, we saw something that’s likely never happened during a manager’s argument with an umpire: the latter asking a manager to fix their mask while they exchange words. That happened during the third inning of a game between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland. With the score tied at 3, a play in the outfield made Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire come out to complain about the call.

Gardenhire objected to umpire Tim Timmons calling a ball stuck under the padding in the outfield a ground rule double, rather than letting the play carry on and potentially getting the Tigers extra bases. The argument was notable for a few reasons, the first of which being that Timmons was caught on a hot mic cursing the Tigers manager out.

The other, of course, was something far more of-the-moment: eagle-eyed viewers noticed that Gardenhire was arguing with his mask on, but not covering his nose. And at one point during the close-range discussion, the umpire actually motioned to Gardenhire to pull up his mask, which he did.

It’s definitely another addition to what’s been a very large pile of odd 2020 visuals due to COVID-19, but it is notable for another reason. MLB has had a number of coronavirus outbreaks that have threatened the league’s ability to actually finish the season logistically. With all that in the background, it’s nice to see that people are trying their best to stay safe. Even in a heated moment on the field.

Positioned in ninth place prior to the resumption of the NBA season in Orlando, the Portland Trail Blazers made it their mission to rise into the eighth and final playoff position in order to contend for an NBA title. In a play-in game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday afternoon, the Blazers did just that as they won to clinch the final playoff spot. Celebrating this feat, guard Damian Lilliard tapped into his rap alter-ego, Dame D.O.L.L.A., to drop his new EP, Live From The Bubble.

Presenting three new tracks to fans, Dame posted the EP on his social media pages inviting fans to experience the “Bubble vibes.” Despite the ongoing NBA season stretching well into late summer, Dame has managed to stay active on the music side of things. Earlier this year he called on Raphael Saadiq for his “GOAT Spirit” single and in October 2019, he shared his third full-length project Big D.O.L.L.A., a ten-track effort that called on Lil Wayne, Mozzy, Jeremih, and more.

Weeks later he shared the project’s deluxe version which found six additional tracks and features from Jadakiss, G-Eazy, Sada Baby, Lil Durk, and Benny The Butcher. The EP also arrives after Lillard was chosen as the MVP of the NBA’s Bubble by unanimous vote. Live From The Bubble can be heard in its entirety on SoundCloud here.

Nearly two weeks ago, following the death of The Roots member Malik B, a video that found singer Jaguar Wright accusing Common of sexual assault re-surfaced on social media. Emotional and distraught because of the situation, the video describes the night in question. Continuing to speak on Common as well as The Roots and other members of the industry in an interview with RealLyfe Productions, Wright offered her advice for women in the industry and how they should protect themselves.

Despite her intention with the interview, her comments on Summer Walker were not received well as the “Come Thru” singer caught wind of them and issued a response.

“My advice to any female who wants to get into this business? Have a thick skin, do not drink alcohol. Never get high in front of anybody,” Wright said in her interview around the 30-minute mark. “Keep somebody close to you that you know at all times, Summer. Has anybody bothered to ask why she all of a sudden become claustrophobic and couldn’t perform anymore? Because she had anxiety? Yeah, she got anxiety cause somebody touched her.” Wright later admitted that could not confirm that any harm was done to Walker, but said “I can look in a woman’s eyes and tell when she been touched.”

Responding to Wright’s interview in the comment section of an Instagram post by The Neighborhood Talk, Walker said, “1. I ain’t never been “touched,” I’m a child of God, I’m highly protected and highly favored honey ain’t nothing EVER happened to me, fortunately, I’ve been beyond blessed enough to never have to experience no shit like that. 2. A mf would definitely get clapped, knocked off, anyone who ACTUALLY knows me knows that.” Walker would issue two more points in her response.

3. I’m a highly intelligent introvert and PREFER to not interact with plp cause a a lot mf’s throwed off, like you, your a prime example of why I don’t have time. & 4. You weird AF, you don’t make something up as serious as RAPE about someone you don’t even know and then try to blast someone about it. I need you to be more productive with your time & platform I don’t know you but I expect more from you. You a woman , a fellow black woman at that like what type of time is you on ? For some clout? chile bless your spirit ima pray for you today.

Aside from her comments Walker, Wright has also spoken on her experiences with the likes of Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and others.