Month: December 2022

First it was BIGBANG‘s Taeyang. Then it was Daesung. Now? It’s iKON.

YG Entertainment‘s third-generation K-Pop boy group iKON will soon bid their farewells to their parent agency after seven years (debuted in 2015). In a statement released today (December 29), the Korean music label released a statement saying members Kim Jinhwan, Bobby, Song Yunhyeong, Goo Junhoe, Kim Donghyuk, and Jung Chanwoo have collectively decided to end their exclusive contract with YG Entertainment. However, the six members would still be able to promote using the “iKON” branding.

Check out the full statement posted on YG Entertainment’s official website, translated by Soompi, below:

“Hello, this is YG Entertainment.

We are informing you that after a long discussion with the iKON members (Kim Jinhwan, Bobby, Song Yunhyeong, Goo Junhoe, Kim Donghyuk, and Jung Chanwoo) about their future activities, out of respect for each other’s opinions, we agreed to end our exclusive contract following the expiration of their contract period.

The six members of iKON will of course be continuing their activities as the group “iKON” in the future, and we are also letting you know that they will continue to communicate with iKONIC [iKON’s fans] through their official social media accounts, including their official fan community Weverse, just as they are now.

We sincerely thank iKON, who has been with us as one of our agency’s artists up until now. We are looking forward to their future activities in a wide variety of fields, and we will be cheering them on.

Additionally, we also thank the iKONIC who were together with us for iKON’s journey. We ask that you continue to give the members your unchanging interest and encouragement as they prepare for a new start.”

On the other hand, the Korean Herald’s subsidiary music outlet, K-Pop Herald, tweeted an exclusive reporting Blackpink moving from YG Entertainment to its affiliate label, THEBLACKLABEL. (The label, founded by YG’s longtime in-house producer Teddy in 2015, recently signed BIGBANG’s Taeyang after his departure from his first label.)

According to a representative from YG Entertainment, the K-pop quartet still has time left on their current contracts, making it hard to confirm their decisions.

“I’m not in the position to confirm the news, but our contracts with the members have not yet ended,” the rep said to K-Pop Herald. “It’s hard to confirm whether they will sign with The Black Label or not after their contracts end.”

Other than, iKON, actor Kang Dong Won has also parted ways with YG Entertainment alongside Taeyang and Daesung of BIGBANG.

As Young Thug and the Young Stoner Life crew’s RICO trial is underway, fans and viewers are eager to know when some of the collective’s members are coming home. In a recent update, it has been reported that rapper YFN Lucci, one of Thug’s known adversaries, is not expected to testify in the RICO trial.

Lucci’s lawyer, Drew Findling, told TMZ, that Lucci, whose real name is Rayshawn Bennett, has not been interviewed or subpoenaed by anyone associated with RICO Case.

“Any party can announce for example that Abraham Lincoln is on their witness list, but those words alone are meaningless,” Findling said. “So, to be 100 percent clear, Rayshawn Bennett will not be a witness in the YSL case.”

Lucci is currently in custody in Fulton County Jail, where he is awaiting his own trial in which he and 11 others were charged with gang-related racketeering.

“His focus, as it should be, is on his pending Fulton County case,” said Findling.

Thug’s trial for his RICO case is currently set to take place on Monday, January 9, 2023, and could potentially go on over the course of more than six months.

Some of the artists mentioned are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

DJ Khaled celebrated his holiday by treating himself to a long-awaited and rare present: Eminem’s Nike Air Jordan 4 “Encore” sneakers. Khaled was so excited that he posted a video to his Instagram, where he sits holding the electric blue shoes.

“I finally got ’em. Anybody know me I been trying to get these for the longest time,” he says. “Yes, I have a lot of sneakers. I collect sneakers, I collect watches and I love my sneakers but I been trying to get these for so long and I finally got ’em.”

“The word is they only made like 23 pairs of these… I’m sure they made a little more than that but I know I been trying to get ’em and I could never get ’em,” Khaled continued.

Eminem’s “Encore” Jordans were originally released in 2005, according to HipHopDX, with only 50 pairs for his friends and family. Most recently, in 2017, there was a retro version of the shoe offered — with only 23 pairs made available, of which Khaled seemingly bought.

The publication notes that only one pair of the iconic shoe currently is being sold for $47,000 as a minimum.

As for Khaled, he’s been a documented sneakerhead. He even showed off his extensive shoe closet during an episode of Complex Closets in 2015, which has likely only grown since then.

Following the news of the passing of the legendary designer, Vivienne Westwood, the music world is reacting and offering their tributes. Westwood played a significant part in the London punk scene, dressing bands like the Sex Pistols and more.

“Viv! My friend, my idol, my icon,” Halsey captioned a slideshow of pics them with Westwood and wearing her designs. There is not enough time or space in this format to appropriately describe the ways you impacted music, fashion, culture, and the like. Your legacy is immortal and eternal.”

“I hope we will all continue to break boundaries and question institutions in your example and memory,” she added. “I will cherish all of our conversations and teas (and *tea*! you had the best stories). Love always, and long live Queen Viv.”

Victoria Beckham, formerly of the Spice Girls, also took to her Instagram story. “I’m so sad to learn of the passing of legendary designer and activist Dame Vivienne Westwood. My thoughts are with her family at this incredibly sad time. VB.”

Boy George also tweeted a selfie of him with Westwood.

“R.I.P to the great and inspiring Vivienne Westwood who lead us through punk and beyond,” he captioned. “Laughed at by the fashion industry but without question she is the undisputed Queen of British fashion. I love you! Oh bondage up yours!”

Continue scrolling to see some additional musicians reacting to Vivienne Westwood’s death.

The NBA has announced a number of suspensions stemming from Wednesday night’s game between the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic that featured a skirmish around the Pistons bench. The most prominent suspensions are three games for Pistons guard Killian Hayes and two games for Magic big man Moe Wagner, the two main individuals involved in the fracas.

In addition, one additional Pistons player, Hamidou Diallo, received a suspension for his involvement. As for the Magic, things are a bit more complex. Eight players — Cole Anthony, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., RJ Hampton, Gary Harris, Kevon Harris, Admiral Schofield, and Franz Wagner — will all receive one-game suspensions for leaving the bench area while things were ongoing. The league announced that the suspensions will be staggered so Orlando can have enough players, so Anthony, Bamba, Carter, Hampton, and G. Harris will miss Friday’s game against the Washington Wizards, while K. Harris, Schofield, and F. Wagner will miss the team’s contest on Jan. 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The incident occurred late in the first half of Wednesday night’s game when Wagner shoved Hayes in the back into Detroit’s bench. Diallo came over to defend his teammate, while a forearm shot by Hayes connected with the back of Wagner’s head. Those three players were eventually ejected from the game. Detroit would go on to win, 121-101.

Some West Coast legends stopped by The People’s Party With Talib Kweli this week. Ice Cube, E-40, and Too Short, of supergroup Mount Westmore (which also includes Snoop Dogg), made an appearance on the web series, on which, they discussed who could parallel them on the opposite side of the country.

On Ice Cube’s Mount Rushmore of East Coast rappers are Jay-Z and Nas. E-40 noted that he would also include Busta Rhymes in the allotted four, citing his innovative craft.

Short admitted that he would switch up his picks every single time, however, would always include “Hip-Hop Hooray” hitmakers Naughty By Nature in his selection.

While each of them had different picks for East Coast GOATs, 40 maintained that the current Mount Rushmore of West Coast rapper is indisputable.

“I haven’t seen not one person argue about us being Mount Westmore,” E-40 said. “Young or old, you can’t.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Cube, Short, and 40 spoke about another West Coast legend — Tupac — and what he meant to them. 40 recalled Pac shouting him out on one of his earlier albums, before 40 had blown up.

“If he f*cked with you, he f*cked with you,” said 40. “He was uplifting to females and the urban community as well.”

You can watch the full episode and hear all of their picks above.

Lady Gaga is the newest artist to partner with a VR fitness company, Supernatural, for a special workout for fans. As the artist of the month for December, she joins the ranks of Katy Perry, Kid Cudi, Coldplay, and The Weeknd, who have special playlists that fans can jam out to — in a virtual gym.

There are also two separate workout options: a medium intensity boxing and a high intensity flow.

“The Supernatural Artist Series is something I’m thrilled to share and experience with all of our athletes,” Leanne Pedante, a coach and Head Of Fitness, shared in a statement. “This partnership allows Supernatural members to deepen their already-immersive experience in a whole new way as they box and sweat to their favorite artists.”

“Music has always been an integral part of Supernatural, and since launch we’ve been dreaming of ways to empower our athletes to further connect with music from the artists they love,” Chris Milk, Supernatural’s founder and CEO, told Billboard following the launch of Perry’s partnership.

According to the publication, the company has also secured publishing deals with “UMPG, Sony/ATV, Warner Chappell, Kobalt and BMG — as well as label deals with UMG and Warner.”

For those interested in working out to Gaga’s biggest hits, the fitness program is available for subscriptions through Meta Quest and Meta Quest 2. So far, since July of this year, they have announced special workouts — a trend that will likely continue into 2023. There have also been additional themed workouts, including a Nightmare Before Christmas one for Halloween.

More information on Lady Gaga’s collab is available on Supernatural’s official website.

On Thursday evening, the Indiana Pacers welcomed the Cleveland Cavaliers to town for a Central Division clash, and it was a highly competitive atmosphere. Cleveland is enjoying a strong season, and Indiana entered the night with an encouraging 18-17 record after 35 games. Late in the third quarter, Indiana led the proceedings, but Donovan Mitchell connected with Isaac Okoro on a dunk after a sequence in which he tossed the ball off the background to himself.

A closer look would tell you that Mitchell almost certainly committed an uncalled traveling violation, and Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t enjoy the non-call. In fact, Carlisle lost his mind to the point where he was quickly ejected from the contest.

As you can hear from the Bally Sports broadcast, it was noticeable right away that Mitchell traveled, and it is tough to blame Carlisle for being frustrated in a close game. Still, Carlisle seemingly blew his top and it is at least plausible that he did so to motivate his team. Former Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce took over on the bench for the Pacers, and Carlisle got to watch the end of the game from the locker room as his team aimed for a notable home win.

Miley Cyrus’ New Year’s Eve Party is the place to be to close out 2022. The “Midnight Sky” hitmaker will be hosting the event this Saturday (December 31) from Miami, alongside her godmother, country legend Dolly Parton. While the hostesses are already megastars in their own rights, the two have promised a superstar line-up of musical performers.

Their latest addition to the line-up includes David Byrne of the iconic new-wave band Talking Heads, as reported by Rolling Stone.

Also on the line-up are Latto, Sia, Rae Sremmurd, who Cyrus first announced earlier this month during an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Later, Cyrus announced that rock outfit Liily, and singer-songwriter Fletcher would also be on the line-up for the New Year’s Eve special. Saturday Night Live comedians Chloe Fineman and Sarah Sherman will also make appearances throughout the night.

On top of her New Year’s Party, Cyrus plans to ring in the new year with new ears. In an interview with Today‘s Hoda Kotb, she revealed that her new year’s resolution is to listen more.

“Dolly was telling me, her husband [Carl Thomas Dean] says, ‘You’re not hard of hearing. You’re hard of listening.’ And I guess that would kind of be my resolution, to not just listen to myself, but listen to others,” said Cyrus.

Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party airs on December 31 at 10:30 p.m. EST on NBC. The special will also be available to stream live on Peacock.

For the third time in his seven-year career, Buddy Hield, who leads the NBA with 132 threes (before Thursday’s games), is shooting better than 41 percent beyond the arc this season. His combination of efficiency, quick release, and versatility make him one of the NBA’s deadliest long-range snipers. Already 37th in NBA history in three-pointers made, he’s going to sit quite prominently among those ranks whenever he retires down the line.

While it would be somewhat of a miracle to ever catch Stephen Curry’s league-best total, Hield now does own one three-point record that the future Hall of Fame guard cannot match currently. On Thursday, Hield notched the quickest three-pointer in recorded NBA history when he knocked down a long ball just three seconds into the Indiana Pacers’ contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His swift jumper squeaked him past another Pacers sharpshooter in Reggie Miller, who drilled a triple four seconds into a game on March 5, 2000. I’d link a video to that play as well, but a brief YouTube search proved unfruitful, sadly.

Miller is one of the greatest shooters ever and Hield could follow suit if he maintains this trajectory. It’s pretty cool that Indiana holds the top two spots. But it’s also tough luck for Miller to lose another record post-retirement, with Curry, Ray Allen, and James Harden all passing him atop the three-point leaderboard since he called it quits in 2005.