Patrick Mahomes is one of the greatest improvisors that we’ve ever seen. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is as good as it gets at throwing the ball accurately from a number of different arm angles, and has wowed football fans from basically the day he took over in K.C. with his ability to make magic happen.

On Saturday afternoon during a preseason game against the Detroit Lions, we saw Mahomes do something that’s impressive even by his lofty standards: Throw a behind-the-back pass. We’ve seen Mahomes bust this out in practice — a clip went around recently of him throwing to Isiah Pacheco — but this was a little different, as he went to his favorite target, Travis Kelce. The really fun twist here is that this was off of play action, so the defense was completely fooled and Kelce had no one anywhere near him en route to an 8-yard gain. (Video here.)

The crowd was stunned, which, I probably would be too if I saw someone on a team I like throw a behind-the-back pass for a first down. We’ll have to see if Mahomes (and, probably more importantly, Andy Reid) is comfortable enough to bust this out during a regular season or playoff game.

The late Elvis Presley’s Graceland estate has reportedly been saved from an elaborate real estate scheme. According to Rolling Stone, the “Hound Dog” singer’s former home-turned-museum was allegedly targeted by a Missouri woman.

In the outlet’s report, it claimed that Lisa Jeanine Findley (also known by other aliases, such as Lisa Holden), was arrested on August 16 by federal authorities for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.

In a statement, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, outlined Findley’s alleged actions. “In an alleged scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland,” read the note.

The family members include Presley’s granddaughter, actress Riley Keough (the daughter of the late Lisa Marie Presley and Danny Keough), who inherited the estate.

“As part of the brazen scheme, we allege that the defendant created numerous false documents and sought to extort a settlement from the Presley family,” said Argentieri. “Now she is facing federal charges. The Criminal Division and its partners are committed to holding fraudsters to account.”

Rolling Stone claims, Findley by way of her companies Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC placed a lien on the estate, citing a fraudulent $3.8 million loan supposedly issued to Lisa Marie Presley where the sprawling estate was listed as collateral.

Findley is accused of using a fake creditor’s claim in Los Angeles and forging a deed of trust filing in Memphis. Then supposedly posting a foreclosure notice in The Commercial Appeal (a Memphis newspaper), prior to an auction scheduled on May 23.

In addition to the Justice Department’s investigation, the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service have launched a case of their own into Findley’s alleged actions.

Should Lisa Jeanine Findley be convicted of these charges, she could serve up to 20 years in prison.

The-Dream (real name Terius Gesteelde-Diamant) is caught up in a legal nightmare. The multiple Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter, has issued a response to sexual assault allegations made by his former protégée.

Back in June, singer Channii Monroe (real name Chanaaz Mangroe) accused The-Dream of rape, sexual battery, and more in a lawsuit obtained by the New York Times. Yesterday (August 16), The-Dream and his legal representatives filed a response to Mangroe’s claims.

According to Rolling Stone, in The-Dream’s filing, he slammed Mangroe’s allegations. “Diamant categorically denies Plaintiff’s allegations in the Complaint,” reads the motion. “They are simply disconnected from reality, and the Complaint fails in its entirety.”

The document proceeds to address each of the claims made by his accuser’s original lawsuit, starting with who initiated contact and the roots of their romantic relationship. The-Dream argues that Mangroe reached out to his friend in order to jumpstart their professional relationship.

He also alleged that Mangroe “made the first move on him,” which lead to their short-lived romantic entanglement, which he then ended. The-Dream accused Mangroe of continually attempting to make advances at him after the fling fizzled out. His legal team is asking the courts to dismiss Mangroe’s lawsuit.

Their motion supposedly includes “sexually text messages” and other supporting screenshotted communications to support The-Dream’s claims. The-Dream’s filing argues that Mangroe’s lawsuit as an attempt to “overwhelm defendants with an unclear mass of allegations and make it difficult or impossible for defendants to make informed responses to the plaintiff’s allegations” and “nothing more than a legally insufficient hit piece.”

YouTubers looking to carelessly discuss the private matters of Nicki Minaj have been put on notice. The “Barbie World” rapper has reportedly secured a major legal victory against one commentator on the platform.

According to TMZ, Nicki Minaj’s court case with YouTuber Nosey Heaux (real name Marley Green) panned out in her favor. In the outlet’s report, it states that the pair reached a settlement over the content creator’s September 2022 claim that Nicki Minaj was a “cokehead” and “shoving all this cocaine up her nose.”

As part of the settlement, according to TMZ, Green must publicly acknowledge that “everything she said about Nicki Minaj using or abusing cocaine was false.” Green must also publicly admit that “she never had any evidence of Nicki Minaj using or abusing cocaine or any other drug.”

Green’s past video did include several harsh remarks about Nicki Minaj’s son, affectionately known as Papa Bear (whom she shares with husband Kenneth Petty).

In additional to the previously mentioned retractions, Green has supposedly agreed to several other stipulations. Green is not to publicly discuss Petty and Papa Bear. Online, Green has reportedly agreed to not repost others comments about Nicki Minaj doing anything or partaking in anything, both illegal or unethical.

Although Nosey Heaux can no longer push the narrative. Unfortunately, for Nicki Minaj, it has already been subtly used by her foes in songs such as Uproxx cover star Latto’s “Put It On Da Floor” and “It’s Givin.”

Like most artists, Bebe Rexha is making the summer months with a host of international bookings. Unfortunately, while abroad, the “Blue Moon” singer’s travels haven’t been as smooth as it could have been, according to her.

Today (August 17), in a deeply emotional video, Bebe Rexha claimed to have been the victim of a hate crime allegedly committed by a Lufthansa airline staffer. In a series of post shared to her Instagram stories, Bebe accused the agent of threatening her and inflicting metal abuse. Bebe alleged that the agent’s actions were due to her speaking in Albanian.

The video, captured by Pop Crave, showed a distressed Bebe inside what appears to be an airport terminal fighting back tears with passport in hand. When asked by an individual out of frame, what is happening, Bebe responds: “The supervisor of the flight is threatening me.”

Although the dialog stops there, Bebe shared more about the incident in the video’s overlaid caption, which read: “I’ve been threatened because I thought the security agent was Albanian. I spoke to him in Albanian asking where to get my ticket, and now he is banning me from the flight.”

Then in a text only post, Bebe expanded on her feelings. “I believe this to be a hate crime because I am Albanian,” she wrote. “He would not let me take his name. He continued to mentally abuse me to make me feel like he was more powerful than he was. Not one of the women at Lufthansa stepped in or said something.”

Bebe closed the note by providing more information about the alleged aggressor’s affiliation with the airline. “I just found out he works for ATSG (Air Transport Services Group) a service company document control hired by Lufthansa,” she wrote.

Bebe Rexha’s followers quickly jumped in to demand that Lufthansa rectify the matter, to which she reposted.

Lufthansa nor Air Transport Services Group have issued a response.

If you live in the northern part of the US (or enjoy a road trip), you’re probably aware of how perfect Michigan is for a late summer (or early fall) vacation. Whether you enjoy camping, hiking, tourist towns, or a day at the beach, Michigan has you covered. Mackinac Island — for example, is more than just where Kramer got his favorite peaches on Seinfeld — it’s also an epic resort town where no cars are allowed. Located in Michigan’s lower peninsula, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is known for its picturesque beaches and giant dunes.

Did we mention beer? If you’re a fan of IPAs, pilsners, barrel-aged stouts, and every other beer style, look no further than Michigan.

While Detroit is Michigan’s largest and most well-known city, if you’re a beer drinker, your late summer or early fall road trip should take you to places like Kalamazoo, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids. The state is home to more than 400 breweries, which is good enough to crack the top ten.

If you’ve already planned the beach and camping portions of your Michigan vacation, it’s time to find the breweries to add to your itinerary. To help you make the most of your trip to the Wolverine State, we picked eight of the best, can’t-miss breweries that you should stop into for a pint or a flight. Keep scrolling to see them all.

Ascension Brewing Company – Novi

Located in Novi, Ascension Brewing Company is part restaurant and part craft brewery. Visit the taproom for a rotating list of fifteen beers. On top of that, you can also purchase cans of the beers you just tried. While that would be good enough to draw some people to this suburban Detroit town, the site also features a brewpub offering mouthwatering items like chicken wings, croque monsieur, truffle fries, Nashville hot chicken, and more.

What to drink:

While you can’t go wrong with just about everything this popular brewery makes, we suggest trying its Expensive Piece. This fruited Berliner Weisse gets its flavor from the addition of dragon fruit, passionfruit, mango, orange, and banana.

Bell’s Brewery – Kalamazoo

There are few Michigan breweries more well-known than Bell’s. The sixth-largest craft brewery in the country has been crafting award-winning beer since 1985. But it’s more than just a massively popular brewery, the Kalamazoo-based brewery is home to Bell’s Eccentric Café where you’ll find more than twenty draft beer options. The brewery is also home to a full-service restaurant and a beer garden.

What to drink:

We get the temptation to try Bell’s Two Hearted IPA on draft. But we suggest also trying its Big Hearted. This 9.5% ABV imperial IPA is known for its combination of ripe fruit, berries, citrus, and gently bitter pine.

Stormcloud Brewing Company – Frankfort

If you find yourself anywhere near Frankfort, Michigan this summer or fall, stopping into Stormcloud Brewing Company would be a great idea. This award-winning brewery is located in Northern Michigan and is well-known for its Belgian-inspired beers. But you’ll get more than just a few tasty pints at Stormcloud. The Frankfort (and Traverse City) location has a brewery and a taproom with various beers on tap and mouthwatering food. As a bonus, you can bring your pup to either location.

What to drink:

Stormcloud is all about the Belgian-style ales. And while you can’t go wrong with any of the brewery’s offerings, we suggest trying its 5.2% ABV Birdwalker Blond. This award-winning Belgian-style blonde is brewed with their house yeast. The result is a gently hoppy, fruit-ester-driven summery beer.

Grand River Brewery – Jackson

Some breweries are destinations simply because of the beer alone. Grand River Brewery isn’t one of those places. This is a stop for fans of great beer and delicious, flavorful food. Not only that, it’s also a distillery and winery if you’re into those forms of alcohol as well. Stop by for a fresh, crisp beer and enjoy a sandwich, steak and fries, burger, wood-fired pizza, and more. As a bonus, the brewery is a great spot for live music.

What to drink:

Grand River Brewery makes a variety of flavorful, refreshing beers. But as summer ends, we’re all about the saisons and farmhouse ales. Grand River makes a great, balanced, thirst-quenching 6% ABV version called Farmhouse Shaker.

Dark Horse Brewing Co. – Marshall

When it comes to Michigan breweries, Dark Horse Brewing is a big name. It’s been a staple of the beer world since 1998. Stop by its Marshall, Michigan location to visit the taproom for award-winning beer, Detroit-style pizza, chicken wings, calzones, and other mouthwatering foods. You can also visit the brewery’s Commons Market for food and beer to go. As a bonus, there’s a beer garden open during the warmer months.

What to drink:

Dark Horse has myriad year-round, seasonal, and special-release beers. But since it’s the end of summer and the beginning of fall, we suggest Dark Horse Amber Ale. This Belgian-style amber ale is copper-colored and known for its fruity, malty, well-balanced flavor profile.

Dead Bear Brewing Co – Grayling

If your idea of a great brewery experience involves a comforting lodge, tavern grub, and delicious, frosty beers, Grayling, Michigan’s Dead Bear Brewing Co. is a must-visit destination. Stop by for small plates, hand-crafted sandwiches, and burgers. Not to mention porters, stouts, and various other beer styles. As a bonus, there’s live music and outdoor seating for those waning, warm summer nights.

What to drink:

While the brewery makes a great hefeweizen, some IPAs, and other classic beers, we suggest you try its Maple Bacon Porter. This 6.8% ABV, rich, flavorful porter was brewed with maple syrup and cooked bacon.

Three Blondes Brewing – South Haven

Three Blondes Brewing got its name because it was opened by (you guessed it) three blondes named Megan, Carrie, and Amanda. Opened in 2018, the brewery is home to a mouthwatering food menu, and a cozy, comfortable tap room. You’ll find foods like elote dip, chicken wings, poutine tots, sandwiches, pizzas, entrees, and more. On top of that, you’ll find fifty rotating beers to choose from.

What to drink:

Three Blondes Brewing has a handful of year-long offerings as well as seasonal and limited-release brews, but one of our favorites is Wake & Lake. This 5.5% ABV pilsner is known for its crisp, easy-drinking flavor profile and bright, hoppy finish.

Founders Brewing Co – Grand Rapids

When it comes to Michigan breweries, Bell’s and Founders are by far the most well-known. No trip to Michigan is complete without a stop at both of these iconic breweries. The latter is a destination because you can enjoy a sandwich and other food while you drink a beer or three overlooking the brewing facilities. You can also rent another space called the Centennial Room for large groups and private events. On top of that, the brewery gives tours of the brewing facility.

What to drink:

Founders makes a ton of great beers. Most of them are readily available at your neighborhood beer or grocery store. If you’re in the taproom, you should try something you can’t get anywhere else. We suggest Nitro Breakfast Stout. This 8.3% ABV stout is known for its creamy mouthfeel and notes of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla.

Welcome To SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. Is your wallet still feeling the pain from last week’s deluge of sneaker drops? That’s probably for the best because this week is a complete 180 from last’s. Our minimum for publishing SNX is five sneakers. If we can’t put together a list of five, there probably aren’t any worthwhile drops, and if there is one it deserves its own breakout article.

In the history of SNX, that has only happened one time near the end of the year, a time that is generally barren for great sneaker drops. It almost happened this week too. Luckily, we were able to put together a list of five. Are all five going to blow you away? No, but we’re confident that each sneaker in this list will have its fans. Let’s dive in and hope that things start looking up next week.

Converse Shai Weapon

Price: $140

A small list of current basketball players can lay claim to the title of “most stylish,” and while we won’t debate who best deserves that title today, a contender for the crown is definitely Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. And a stylish player needs a stylish pair of shoes, enter the Converse Weapon Shai, Gilgeous-Alexander’s take on the legendary Weapon.

The Shai features a white leather upper with crinkled details at the collar in faded purple, CX foam cushioning, a grippy rubber outsole, and a slightly aged midsole. It’s elegant, refined, and classic.

The Converse Shai Weapon is out now for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair at Converse.

New Balance Made in USA 990v6 Reflection

Price: $199.99

Fans of the 990v6 rejoice! The silhouette is getting a lot of attention this week and kicking it all off is this Made in USA design in a clean “Reflection with Marblehead” colorway. This sneaker features premium construction with a mesh upper adorned with pigskin suede and synthetic overlays and reflective details throughout. The sneaker rides on a lightweight cushion-heavy ENCAP midsole.

The New Balance Made in USA 990v6 Reflection is out now for a retail price of $199.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.

New Balance Made in USA 990v6 Castle Rock

Price: $219.99

I can’t give you a good reason for why this New Balance 990v6 in Castle Rock costs twenty dollars more than the Reflection aside from the fact that the colorway is cooler. Is that a good reason for a shoe to be more expensive? Absolutely not. But that’s the ridiculousness of the sneaker market. If that’s reason enough for you to not pick up this pair, we totally understand.

This sneaker features a mesh upper with pigskin suede and synthetic overlays over an ENCAP midsole. It hurts to admit that this pair looks better than the Reflection, but it is what it is.

The New Balance Made in USA 990v6 Castle Rock is out now for a retail price of $219.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

New Balance Made in USA 993 Shadow Grey

Price: $219.99

The 993, first released almost two decades ago, is a marriage of the 991 and 992 silhouette. It represents the next step in a long lineage of great running sneakers and with its Ndurance rubber heel, ABZORB midsole, and flexible cushioning, it carries on the tradition set out by the 99X series wonderfully.

This sneaker features a mesh upper with hairy suede overlays and a mix of brown and gray tones. My favorite detail is the embroidered type tongue logo.

The New Balance Made in USA 993 Shadow Grey is out now for a retail price of $219.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Air Jordan 11 Low Diffused Blue

Price: $190

Closing out the week we have this Diffused Blue Jordan 11. It’s not a particularly exciting release, there is no hardcore lore tied to the release, it’s just a great sneaker in a great colorway. And sometimes, that’s all you need.

The Jordan 11 Diffused Blue features a leather upper in white, textile details, and a low-cut silhouette with a blue patent leather mudguard.

The Air Jordan 11 Low Diffused Blue is set to drop on August 17th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $190. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

1990s pop culture brought us Buffy and Party of Five on primetime TV, and two stars from those shows formed one half of a quartet of a budding horror franchise that didn’t earn critical praise but did launch careers. The first film, 1997’s I Know What You Did Last Summer, reveled in horror tropes including a nonsensical set of decisions by the group — portrayed by Jennifer Love Hewitt, Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ryan Phillipe — rounding out a group of high schoolers who hit a pedestrian and tried to cover their tracks. Of course, somebody was aware of their criminal acts and a mysterious, hooked figure (Ben, portrayed by Muse Watson) proceeded to make their lives hell with various stalking and threatening behavior.

The film was quickly followed by 1998’s I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, starring Hewitt, Prinze, Watson, and several cast additions including Brandy and Mekhi Phifer. That film ended with Hewitt’s character still being terrorized by Watson, although, presumably, she remains alive? Let’s talk about what has been revealed thus far about the reboot film that will act as a legacy sequel to the first two films.

Cast

Deadline has reported that Hewitt and Prinze are expected to return, although Prinze did tell Us Weekly, “Nothing’s a lock until there’s ink on paper, until the contract’s signed, but I’m definitely talking to them.” Watson’s possible hook-involvement hasn’t been confirmed yet either, although set-in-stone new cast members will include Camila Mendes, Madelyn Cline, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, and Sarah Pidgeon.

Notably, Brandy (who appeared in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer), reacted to news of the reboot by telling Hollywood Reporter that she “didn’t know Sony was putting that together.” She called this development “interesting” and expressed interest in returning to the franchise while also insisting that “I’m not pulling a fast one on you” for PR purposes.

It’s worth noting that this franchise’s third film, 2006’s I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, skipped theaters with a new cast, and that film appears to be erased from memory for reboot purposes. Additionally, a Prime Video/Amazon series (also called I Know What You Did Last Summer) aired for a season in 2021 before being swiftly cancelled. That project will likely also be ignored for the future, so let’s talk about what has been announced.

Plot

As Deadline revealed, the reboot script has been penned by Leah McKendrick with further writing from Kaytin Robinson and Sam Lansky. The film shall be produced by Sony and distributed by Columbia Pictures, and original franchise producer Neal Moritz is onboard again.

Specifics on the new plot are hush hush, but a young new cast will be front and center, and presumably, the new group will also accidentally do something gruesome and pay the price a year later, although hopefully, this film will differentiate from what came before in a way that will bring something new to the table for this century.

Release Date

The reboot is currently planned for a July 18, 2025 arrival.

Trailer

In lieu of an actual reboot trailer, it’s worth revisiting Jennifer Love Hewitt’s admission (to US Weekly) that her “What are you waiting for?” scene, spinning and everything, was directed by a kid who won a contest.

And here’s that scene in all its bizarre “glory.” If there’s no tribute to this madness in the reboot, then why bother?

The Best New Hip-Hop This Week includes albums, videos, and songs from Big Sean, Chance The Rapper, and YG.

Latto followed up the release of her new album Sugar Honey Iced Tea with an additional new song, “Chicken Grease.”

Cash Cobain pushed the limits of modern-day short singles with “Problems,” a massive megamix of Laila!’s breakout TikTok hit — which she also dropped a video for — featuring almost a dozen guest stars.

Big Sean finally dropped his and The Alchemist’s collab, “Together Forever.”

Chance The Rapper reunited with Joey Purp for “Bad Boys 2,” a throwback to their SAVEMONEY days.

Lil Yachty teamed up with Veeze to flex on the unapologetic “Sorry Not Sorry.”

And Coi Leray got animated in the video for the cartoony, “Not In The Store.”

Here is the best of hip-hop this week ending Friday, August 16, 2024.

Albums/EPs/Mixtapes

38 Spesh — Mother & Gun

Rochester, New York rapper and producer 38 Spesh is one project shy of 20 with Mother & Gun, which is impressive considering his remarkable consistency. This time out, he’s accompanied by New York City mainstays Havoc, Lloyd Banks, and Method Man, as well as fellow Upstaters Benny The Butcher and Che Noir.

Billy B — Better Late Than Never

Brooklyn native Billy B is a relative newcomer, but credit Tidal’s algorithm for occasionally surfacing some good stuff. Her flow and beat choice on this project definitely hearken back to the Golden Era sound of her hometown, but she’s got her own unique point of view that complements that sound in an original way.

Jae Skeese — Ground Level

Another Upstate New York native, Buffalo’s Jae Skeese is one of the flagship artists of artist of Conway The Machine’s Drumwork Records. Despite being packed with features, Ground Level keeps the focus firmly on Skeese as he works to establish himself as a force worthy of being associated with the likes of Big KRIT, Dave East, Jay Worthy, Sauce Walka, Smoke DZA, and the rest of his high-profile guest stars.

YG — Just Re’d Up 3

A surprising double album, Just Re’d Up 3 takes cues from the mixtape series that YG continues with this latest installment, but also adds in all the creative growth he’s undergone since My Krazy Life. It’s so surprising because it’s more of a smooth, romantic ride than we’re used to from the gangsta rap stalwart (although there’s still plenty of that material here, as well).

Singles/Videos

Blu & Exile — “Love Is Blue”

As great as Blu and Exile have proven to be as artists individually, there’s simply no denying that they bring the best out of each other whenever they reunite. That remains true on this soulful new single, which precedes another of their infrequent collaborative albums, Blu & Exile Love the Ominous World, which is on the way.

LaRussell — “Caught Up In My Head” Feat. Wonderlust

Here’s something different from the Bay Area rapper. Leaving his post-hyphy anthems to the side for a moment, the Vallejo native attempts something more melodic, combining finger-snapping, danceable indie-pop with a four-on-the-floor beat and crooning his heart out. It’s nice to see rappers stepping out of their comfort zones, especially when they have this much fun doing it.

Rylo Rodriguez — “85 Cutlass”

Lil Baby’s 4PF protégé puts his learning under one of rap’s foremost hitmakers on display. Rather than tell us how certified he is, he describes his qualifications with a list of vivid lyrical images that show us just how much he’s been through to justify his fatalistic outlook.

That Mexican OT — “1982” Feat. Curren$y & LE$

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I love when That Mexican OT goes in over more jazzy, laid-back instrumentals like this one. That he’s joined by two of the most high-profile progenitors of the lifestyle rap subgenre in Curren$y and fellow Texan LE$ is just icing on a very smooth cake.

Jacob Trouba has a look of bewilderment in his eyes. We meet at Harper’s Gallery, in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City, for his “Landing My Mark” exhibition opening. Trouba emanates self-assurance, but this is unfamiliar territory. The New York Rangers captain isn’t fazed by thousands of people watching his every move on the ice, but he never imagined his artwork would be up for public consumption.

“I didn’t set out to have a gallery show when I started,” Trouba, 30, says. “This is the first time people have viewed them in person — the first showing [outside of] friends and family at our apartment. I was never out to sell art. That was never the goal.”

Three summers ago, Trouba set out to find an offseason hobby. He doesn’t watch television, and, as he says now, “I suck at golf.” Michael Geschwer, a friend since Trouba had been traded from Winnipeg to New York in 2019, invited Trouba to his art studio. “I said, ‘I’ll go for three days and give it a try,” Trouba says. Initially, Trouba’s goal was to paint something his wife, Dr. Kelly Tyson-Trouba, would want hanging on their apartment walls. “Because it was impossible,” Trouba says, flashing a grin. “There was no way I could have painted something that she would’ve let me hang in the house. So, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna do it.’”

At Geschwer’s studio, Trouba didn’t know what to do with the paintbrush in his hand. He tried painting Kelly and their dog. “I wanted to go home. I was horrible,” he says, adding, “I was very close to being like, ‘This just isn’t for me.’”

Then, Trouba remembered who he was. He had made his name on the ice as a relentlessly physical defenseman, selflessly launching his body to inflict punishing hits in pursuit of something greater. A couple of weeks later at Geschwer’s studio, Trouba realized he had overlooked his favorite tool for self-expression: His body.

Trouba suited up in his hockey gear, doused in oil and acrylic paint, and launched himself onto a wall-length canvas. “Leap Of Faith,” Trouba’s first painting, was born.

“I remember stepping back and looking at it, like, Whoa, this is awesome. I can do something with this,” Trouba says. “You make marks, and then you figure it out. You can change them. Nothing’s permanent. I think that was when I was like, so I can make this line, I can fix it, or do something else? It’s not there forever. You want it to be done quickly, and it just doesn’t happen quickly. So, [I had to] get over that hurdle of this isn’t going to be done today, tomorrow, or this week; this is going to be months.”

Trouba’s hockey career was already a testament to his dedication to seeing something through, no matter how long it takes. Trouba rooted his identity in hockey as a kid in Rochester, Michigan, and excelled for one season at the University of Michigan before the Winnipeg Jets snagged him ninth overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Anyone could have seen Jacob Trouba, NHL star, coming.

Nobody saw Jacob Trouba, the artist, coming.

Trouba never drew attention to it. His teammates didn’t grasp it until a Trouba painting was auctioned during New York Rangers Casino Night in February. The same month, Trouba custom painted the backplate of Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick’s mask for the 2024 NHL Stadium Series. Slowly, Trouba invited friends and family to the studio and opened up to them, which he describes as “nerve-wracking,” but they encouraged him to keep sharing his art.

“Jacob never really showed any artistic interest in his adolescence, which is why I was so surprised when he told me he was painting,” says Kristy Trouba, Jacob’s mother, with whom Jacob became a face for AstraZeneca’s “Get Body Checked Against Cancer” campaign. “He spent most of his time concentrating on school and hockey. When most of his friends were inside playing video games, Jacob would be out in the garage shooting hockey pucks against a shooting tarp.”

She adds, “Not surprising to me, however, is the fact that he has been so successful in this endeavor. One thing I know to be true is that, once Jacob sets his mind to something, he gives it 110 percent and is generally very successful.”

Yes, Trouba was finally successful in winning over Kelly, his wife of five-plus years, with an all-brush painting depicting their relationship. She hung it in the nursery for their infant son, Axel. “Actually, the baby loves it,” Trouba says. “When you walk by it, he stares at it, which is great.” But Trouba is proudest of how painting widens his scope to give back.

“The charitable aspect is much more fulfilling than my art hanging in someone’s house,” Trouba says.

In June, Trouba reacted to PGA Tour golfer Grayson Murray’s death by suicide by donating that month’s print sales to Athletes For Hope and estimates it amounted to $10,000, and will continue as an ambassador for the foundation. At Harper’s Gallery, Trouba donated one painting to be auctioned off as part of his partnership with NHL’s Hockey Fights Cancer. The Rangers star also pulled from personal experience when founding the Trouba Creative Expressions Arts Program with Kelly, who suffers from epilepsy. The program connects adults with epilepsy with art therapists.

Trouba mostly speaks very matter-of-factly and self-deprecatingly about what he repeatedly refers to as simply “a hobby” that he “enjoys spending time doing” throughout our conversation. “I don’t view it as some crazy thing I’m trying to accomplish,” he says. But someone needs to say it: Trouba’s artwork helps people by simply existing. He doesn’t paint for a reaction, but he’s been touched by watching people’s reactions change — their minds opening to new perspective in real time — when he explains his intention behind a piece.

“I was interested in what makes a piece of art good,” Trouba says, referencing his mindset three summers ago. “Why is that one better than this one? That was the original question I had. I’m not perfect at art in any way imaginable and probably never will be. It was more about the challenge of, you’re a hockey player; you can’t be an artist. You’re not supposed to do this. The challenge more than perfection.”

Harper Levine, founder and owner of Harper’s Gallery, didn’t dismiss Trouba as a hockey player after seeing his blue and black “Arrival And Departure” painting online. Levine, a Rangers fan, was watching a game last December when his daughter blew up his phone: “Dad, Jacob’s a good artist!”

“I started looking at his feed, and I couldn’t believe what I saw,” Levine says. “I was immediately struck by the blue painting, and it’s inescapably a great painting. You wouldn’t be able to create a compositionally sophisticated painting like Jacob has done if you didn’t have some real inherent great chops as an artist. He has no formal training, so he has an innate artistic sense that he probably was born with. It’s just amazing that someone who has such a high-profile day job is also so good at this.”

Trouba is a naturally distinguishable artist because, consciously or subconsciously, painting reframed his day job and his relationship with his body. With Geschwer, Trouba attached to art by studying the basics of marks, lines, and washes. He eventually recognized that his hockey hits were more than hits. His body had value outside of what it could do for the Rangers, and he owed it to himself to explore the unique marks his body could make as his brush.

“It really shines a light that athletes are not one-dimensional people,” Levine says. “Athletes are objectified. One of the reasons why, from an art standpoint, this is so interesting is there was a famous artist named Yves Klein who did body paintings, but he used a model. Jacob used his own body for self-liberation.”

Levine continues, “Because Jacob is known as a hockey player — a very tough, old-school, and very physical hockey player — this is a way for him to channel those things that he brings on the ice into something completely different so that folks recognize that it’s not what they think it is. His hits can be channeled into something else that’s really poetic and intrinsically non-violent.”

Trouba notes that “hitting will still be incorporated” in his artwork, but he emphasizes that “there’s more to explore.” He feels like a kid again — indulging his curiosity and competitive nature, free from the weight of results.

“I’m expanding the artistic language while still bringing it back to hockey,” he says. He points toward a light and dark blue painting called “The Center” hanging in the opposite corner. “The only blue dot on the hockey rink is the center-ice dot, but it’s not just a blue dot. I skated over it, made my lines, and it encompasses the center of my universe.” Hanging in another room is “Wheat Field,” which Trouba painted this summer by smacking his hockey stick against the canvas to maintain a hockey element while allowing for growth into more traditional brushwork. In the process, he is preserving his hockey identity.

When asked whether he finds relief in knowing he can paint forever as opposed to inevitable athletic mortality, Trouba flinches. He laughs before saying, “I don’t know. I don’t like to think about the end of hockey.” Although, he admits, “Maybe the running into the wall will expire at some point, but there is no expiration date on painting.”

This month, an untold number of people have walked by Harper’s Gallery and seen Trouba’s “Arrival And Departure” hanging in the window — the same painting that prompted Levine to initiate this gallery showing. Many of them probably had a visceral reaction like Levine did. “Arrival And Departure” may not have been as striking if Trouba had ignored his gut feeling that it wasn’t finished. He had walked away from it for a week, assuming it was done, before suiting up and hitting it again. Selflessly pushing his body in pursuit of something greater. He shook off angst that he’d ruined it and added white emulsion. He responded to his marks until they told him the painting was done.

Now, “Arrival And Departure” symbolizes what will drive Trouba long after his “Landing My Mark” exhibition exits Harper’s Gallery on August 24.

“I can do what I want to do, change it if I don’t like something, paint over it, let it dry, and paint it white again — you can do anything,” he says. “In hockey, winning is that feeling you chase. Painting is kind of the same thing. A finished painting is something you’re proud of. You leave the studio, and you’re like, ‘Oh, I love it.’ You feel happy. Everything in here, I love. Nothing you don’t love is finished.”