Month: June 2024

The most anticipated preview of hip-hop to come has arrived. The XXL Freshman Class is an annual tradition that lets hip-hop fans get a look at the year’s fastest-rising stars.

This year’s list includes Texas rapper BigXThaPlug, Tallahasee, Florida rapper Bossman Dlow, New York rapper Cash Cobain, Atlanta rapper Hunxho, Philadelphia rapper Lay Bankz, New York rapper Maiya The Don, Boston rapper Rich Amiri, New York rapper Scarlip, Houston rapper That Mexican OT, and the mysterious crooner 4Batz.

Prior lists have included Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Latto, Megan Thee Stallion, and more, so it’s usually a pretty good indicator of how artists’ careers are playing out — and at least one name on the cover is almost guaranteed to become a superstar. See below for a breakdown of each rapper’s breakout moment.

This post is being updated.

Bronny James will look to join his father in the NBA next season, as LeBron’s eldest son is part of this week’s 2024 NBA Draft. Bronny likely won’t hear his name called until Thursday evening, as the NBA is splitting the Draft into two nights, with the first round Wednesday and the second round on Thursday, but there’s plenty of scuttle about the Suns and Lakers both being heavily interested in Bronny at that point — and are the only two teams he’s agreed to work out for.

While LeBron has stated his desire to have the chance to play alongside his son, Bronny made it clear at the Combine his main goal is simply to make it to the league and follow his own path. Still, given the Lakers are one of two teams connected to Bronny, it seems like there’s a very good chance the father-son duo end up on the same roster together.

We’ll have to wait til Thursday to find out if that’s the case, but in the meantime, Bronny joined Joe La Puma on the latest episode of Complex’s Sneaker Shopping to talk about his favorite sneakers. One of the perks of being LeBron’s son is access to an awful lot of Nike and Jordan shoes, and Bronny bounces around from line to line with what he plays in, including a strong Combine appearance in Kobe Protro 4s. Still, he often comes back home to the LeBrons, and La Puma asked him for his favorite sneaker from his dad’s signature line (4:25 mark of the above video).

“My favorite Brons…like to play in? Like, the 1s for me — yeah the first ones, I love playing in those. They’re super light and they look great. But the 20s too, like you can never go wrong. I helped make those, so…”

It’s kind of wild that Bronny’s favorite shoe from his dad’s line are the ones that came out before he was even born — the Zoom Generation 1s launched for LeBron’s rookie season in 2003, and Bronny was born in 2004. That said, the LeBron line isn’t for everyone, especially some of those bigger models that came out during James’ prime, so it’s not a huge surprise that if Bronny is a fan of lighter shoes, he’d go with the first ones.

He also confirmed in the video that he was part of the testing for and “helped make” the LeBron 20s, so naturally those are a close runner up. If he does end up on the Lakers playing alongside LeBron, I would bet pretty good money that Bronny will throw on a pair of Zoom Generation 1s for that first game in a full circle moment.

After postponing several of the dates for her 25th-anniversary tour for The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, Ms. Hill has announced a new run of dates with Fugees and her son, YG Marley. You can find more ticketing information, like when, where, and how to buy tickets, below.

How To Buy Tickets For Lauryn Hill & The Fugees’ The Miseducation Anniversary Tour

You can find tickets and more info at LiveNation.com. You may also be able to get tickets on resale sites like SeatGeek, StubHub, and VividSeats.

When Do Tickets For Lauryn Hill & The Fugees’ The Miseducation Anniversary Tour Come Out?

Tickets going on sale on Friday, June 28 at 10:00 AM local time. A Citi presale starts on Tuesday, June 25.

How Much Are Tickets For Lauryn Hill & The Fugees’ The Miseducation Anniversary Tour?

Ticket prices for Ms. Hill’s new tour dates are unknown at the moment, but the first pre-sale on June 25 will reveal the price to expect.

The Miseducation Anniversary Tour Dates

08/09 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
08/11 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
08/16 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
08/18 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
08/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at The Mann
08/23 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
08/25 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
08/28 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
08/30 – Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
08/31 – Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
09/04 – Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater*
09/06 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
09/07 – Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
09/13 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
09/15 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
09/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
09/20 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
09/21 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
10/12 – Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
10/14 – London, UK @ The O2
10/18 – Paris, France @ Accor Arena
10/22 – Amsterdam, Holland @ Ziggo Dome

With the NBA season now over (although Detroit Pistons fans would claim it’s been over since last October), what’s a basketball fan to do? Watching Angel Reese do her thing is a good place to start. There’s also two more episodes of Clipped, the FX on Hulu miniseries about Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling being one of history’s greatest monsters.

Episode 5, “The Best Words,” finds Donald Sterling’s assistant V. Stiviano (played by Cleopatra Coleman) trying to “explain herself to Barbara Walters,” according to the official logline, while coach Doc Rivers (Laurence Fishburne) finds himself doing everybody’s job and the Sterlings (Ed O’Neill and Jacki Weaver) face consequences. The episode premieres on Hulu on January 25 at 3 a.m. EST/12 a.m. PST. The finale airs next week.

Here’s more on Clipped:

FX’s Clipped takes you behind the scenes of a notorious NBA owner’s racist remarks, captured on a tape heard around the world. Based on the hit ESPN 30 for 30 podcast The Sterling Affairs, this limited series charts the collision between a dysfunctional basketball organization and even less functional marriage, and the precipitating tape’s impact on an ensemble of characters striving to win against the backdrop of the most cursed team in the league.

You can watch Clipped on Hulu.

Shaboozey’s Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, led by the Billboard Hot 100 charter and platinum-certified “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Shaboozey will tangibly enjoy his music’s resonance on his newly announced headlining fall tour in support of Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going.

According to a press release, “The expansive Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going run sees Shaboozey playing his largest venues to date.” The tour will kick off at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 9 and wrap at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, California on October 14.

The artist pre-sale is scheduled for Tuesday, June 25, at 10 a.m. local time, followed by the TikTok pre-sale on Wednesday, June 26, at 10 a.m. local time. All pre-sales will conclude at 10 p.m. local time on Thursday, June 27, before the general public on-sale on Friday, June 28, at 10 a.m. local time.

Shaboozey’s 2024 Tour Dates: Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going

09/09 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
09/11 — Chicago, IL @ Metro
09/13 — Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall
09/16 — Boston, MA @ Royale Boston
09/17 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
09/21 — Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
09/25 – Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
09/29 — Denver, CO @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
10/02 — Nashville, TN @ TBA
10/14 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre

Shaboozey’s Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going Tour Poster

The wait for The Bear‘s third season already wasn’t very long in TV time. Mind you, fans (including myself) were ready to immediately see more episodes and wondered how Carmy would get outta that fridge, but the series continues to only take a year between releases, which is nearly unheard of for streaming shows these days. Yet the planned release date (this Thursday, June 27) has moved up ever so slightly, and there shall be no complaints, other than from the characters that Carmy annoys and also stresses out by simply showing up for work each day and yelling about pastries.

This early release plan also means that Ayo Edebiri can stop dropping fake spoilers sooner than expected (on Wednesday, June 26), and via a press release, this will happen at 9:00pm EST on Hulu. The entire season will be available to binge, which means that plenty of people are going to be hitting their couches over the weekend.

According to the show’s newest synopsis, Carmy and his crew will “do what it takes to elevate The Bear, their beef stand turned fine dining establishment, to the highest level, all while doing their best just to stay in business. It’s a losing battle every single day in the restaurant business. Carmy pushes himself harder than ever, and demands excellence from his crew, who do their best to match his intensity.”

Will this cause friction? Oh yes: “Their quest for culinary excellence will propel the crew to new levels and stress the bonds that hold the restaurant together.” I hope Richie keeps Carmy from going too far off the rails, but we’ll soon see how that goes. As you were, Chefs!

Los Angeles is a city known for its sunshine and celebrities, but did you know it’s also a gateway to epic mountain biking adventures? For thrill-seeking cyclist Adam Masters, the urban jungle is just the starting line, leading to heart-pounding trails and breathtaking views all within a 10-mile radius of his home in the city.

Sure, Adam loves full weekend road trips, but his backyard – Angeles National Forest – is where he loves to drive to quickly escape the urban buzz. “If you condense it down to a good 10-mile radius, there is so much adventure out there,” he says “Accessibility is key”.

Enter his Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport, the ultimate adventure mobile. Its rugged build conquers any rough roads en route to nearly hidden trailheads all across the 700,000 acre National Forest while the truck bed becomes a gear haven.

“One of the reasons why I go out and do all these adventures,” Adam explains, “is just to be an example. Honestly, you don’t need a full weekend to go out and have an adventure.”

Just minutes from Los Angeles, the Angeles National Forest boasts hundreds of miles of trails, catering to every skill level. Adam says, “One of my favorite things about mountain biking is being able to get out, deep in the mountains, above Los Angeles, and look down at millions of people, no one around.” And with the right vehicle, exploring them becomes a breeze.

So next time you’re stuck in the concrete jungle and daydreaming of wide-open trails, remember: your next epic ride could be a short drive (and a well-equipped truck bed) away. Check out the video above as we follow Adam on his adventure, uncovering the hidden gems of the Angeles National Forest.

The story of Blink-182 can’t be told without mentioning the side projects. There was +44 (featuring Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker), Box Car Racer (Tom DeLonge and Barker), and Angels & Airwaves (DeLonge). Well, Blink honored that history this past weekend by busting out songs from the former two bands live for the first time.

The band performed at Orlando’s Kia Center on June 20 to launch the the One More Time Tour. Per setlist.fm, the setlist saw the band playing (portions of) +44’s “When Your Heart Stops Beating” and Box Car Racer’s “There Is” for the first time as Blink-182.

As for what else made the set, the band drew primarily from their new album One More Time… and their self-titled fifth album. Of course, there was also “Can’t Go Back,” a brand-new song.

Check out the full setlist below.

Blink-182’s One More Time Tour Setlist

1. “Feeling This”
2. “The Rock Show”
3. “Man Overboard”
4. “Aliens Exist”
5. “Dance With Me”
6. “Obvious”
7. “Bored To Death”
8. “Edging”
9. “Up All Night”
10. “More Than You Know”
11. “M+M’s”
12. “Stay Together For The Kids”
13. “Not Now”
14. “Can’t Go Back” (live debut)
15. “I Miss You”
16. “Down”
17. “When Your Heart Stops Beating” (+44 cover)
18. “There Is” (Box Car Racer cover)
19. “Fuck Face”
20. “Anthem Part 3”
21. “Always”
22. “What’s My Age Again?”
23. “First Date”
24. “All The Small Things”
25. “Dammit”
26. “One More Time” (encore)

The Toronto Raptors traded their two highest-profile players during this past season, as Pascal Siakam was sent to the Indiana Pacers and OG Anunoby became a member of the New York Knicks. The message clearly was that this is Scottie Barnes‘ team, and now, the Raptors are making the sort of financial commitment to Barnes which backs up that sentiment.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Barnes plans to sign a 5-year max extension to remain in Toronto, and while we’ll have to wait and see how much money he ends up getting on this deal, it could end up being worth $270 million. Wojnarowski went on to note that Barnes will have to wait until July 6 to put pen to paper on the contract.

Barnes has one more year on his rookie deal before this will go into effect ahead of the 2025-26 season. The league’s Rookie of the Year back in 2022, Barnes is coming off of the best season of his career, one which saw him earn his first All-Star nod as an injury replacement. The former Florida State standout averaged 19.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 34.9 minutes per game while shooting 47.5 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from behind the three-point line before his season came to a premature end in early March due to a hand fracture.

It’s been 25 years since Lauryn Hill turned the music world on its ear with her solo debut album, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, and to celebrate the anniversary, Ms. Hill has announced a new run of tour dates in conjunction with her fellow Fugees, along with her son, YG Marley, as opening act. Hill announced the new run of tour dates after previously postponing her 20th anniversary tour due to health issues.

The new tour begins in August in Tampa, Florida, with tickets going on sale on Friday, June 28 at 10:00 AM local time. The presale for Citi cardholders starts on Tuesday, June 25. As always, you can find more info at LiveNation.com.

08/09 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
08/11 – West Palm Beach, FL @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
08/16 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
08/18 – Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
08/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ TD Pavilion at The Mann
08/23 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live
08/25 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
08/28 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center
08/30 – Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater
08/31 – Tinley Park, IL @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
09/04 – Huntsville, AL @ The Orion Amphitheater*
09/06 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion
09/07 – Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
09/13 – Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
09/15 – Chula Vista, CA @ North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
09/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
09/20 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
09/21 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
10/12 – Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
10/14 – London, UK @ The O2
10/18 – Paris, France @ Accor Arena
10/22 – Amsterdam, Holland @ Ziggo Dome