Category: Worldwide

The parallel rises of rap and basketball throughout the ’70s and ’80s led to a fascinating phenomenon in the ’90s and beyond, wherein a practitioner of one could turn out to be surprisingly adept at the other. While this has led to a rise in the number of professional basketball players who dabble in rap music (hello, Gelo!), it’s been more rare for rappers to make it into pro basketball — but not unheard of.

While it’s fairly common to see rappers who were respected athletes throughout high school and even college, there have only been a handful of rappers to make it all the way to the pro level — and only one who managed to make it to the NBA, even if only for a cup of coffee. Here’s a list of the MCs who moonlighted as PGs, who hustled their way up from street ciphers to the half-court circle.

Pros:

Master P

There’s only one place to start here: with the only professional rapper to date to sign with an NBA team. The 6’4″ Master P, aka Percy Miller, was one of a handful of pioneering indie rappers from the South in the ’90s, exploding into national stardom with his 1997 single, “Make ‘Em Say Uhh!” His pre-existing rap success didn’t stop him from trying out for the Charlotte Hornets in 1998, or for the Vancouver Grizzlies (now the Memphis Grizzlies) the following season. He played in one preseason game for the Grizzlies, scoring 8 points against the Toronto Raptors before being waived as the season started.

J. Cole

The next closest thing to the NBA is the NBA-backed BAL (Basketball Africa League), in which the 6’2″ North Carolina native played three games in 2021. All told, he totaled 5 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds, averaging about 15 minutes a game. The pro ball bug stayed with Cole after his BAL stint, and he joined the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League the next year, averaging 2.4 points through six games and proving that he could at least hang with pro ballers.

Sheck Wes

It’s ironic that Sheck Wes came to notoriety with a song touting his former high school teammate “Mo Bamba,” as he would follow Bamba in pursuit of pro basketball glory. However, the 6’2″ Cactus Jack signee would take a different route, joining France’s LNB Pro A, the top division of the Ligue Nationale de Basket, in 2021 for Paris Basketball. Sheck played three games for the then-recently-promoted Paris, averaging 1.3 ppg.

College:

Dave East

Standing 6 feet, 5 inches, New York native David Brewster played two seasons at Towson University in Maryland, VA, although injuries and academic struggles curtailed his career.

2 Chainz

Another 6’5″ natural forward, Atlantan rapper Tauheed Epps attended Alabama State University on a scholarship for two seasons, where he contributed 3 points a game in his 96-97 season before getting “into some trouble” and transferring to Virginia State.

Stalley

Ohio’s own Stalley reportedly had a scholarship to the University of Michigan to play ball, but was shut down by a foot injury.

High School:

Quavo

Quavo was a bit of a multi-sport star in his Georgia hometown, playing basketball and starring as the starting quarterback of his school’s team, before dropping out to pursue… other endeavors. He kept up with sports, hosting community events and even a basketball tournament for one of his video shoots.

Cam’ron

Cam often brags that he and Harlem partner Mase were nice enough to go pro (that’s what they all say), but his lack of academic focus cost him a scholarship.

The Game

Game played a bit for Compton High, but is also notable for his participation in LA’s storied pro-am, the Drew League, for several seasons, including a championship season in which his team, Birdie’s Revenge, went undefeated. You can read about it here.

The video for Latto‘s new single “Somebody” is straight up travel propaganda (I was going to use another “p” word here, but let’s not get deprioritized on Google, right?), with the Atlanta native taking in a tropical vacation to Jamaica. All the hallmarks of complete relaxation are here: a raft ride down a lazy river, all the lush greenery you can handle, and of course, one of the skimpiest bikinis you’ve ever seen. Latto knows her brand, and she represents it well; her sister Brooklyn Nikole directs, and Jamaican star Popcaan has a cameo.

“Somebody” is the “Big Energy” rapper’s first new single of the year, following the release of her criminally underrated album, Sugar Honey Iced Tea, and its singles “Big Mama,” “Brokey,” and “Blick Sum.” That could mean a deluxe edition is on the way, or that Latto’s already nearing a release of a full-length follow-up to Sugar Honey Iced Tea, which would be more than welcome in what’s been kind of a slow year for big-name rap so far.

If the latter’s the case, any news of the release would probably come this summer, after she completes her European tour including festival dates in the UK, France, Berlin, Amsterdam, and more. You can find more info about Latto’s tour here.

Watch Latto’s “Somebody” video above.

Ryan Murphy is enjoying perhaps the most enviable dilemma: as a powerhouse producer, his shows are so popular and plentiful that he can’t possibly keep up. Is that Taylor Sheridan’s future, too? Perhaps, but at the moment, eyes are on Murphy’s many shows and how some of them might be pushed out due to popular demand for the others. That is to say, Murphy is working on so many followup seasons like Monster‘s third season with Charlie Hunnam, and it appears that The Watcher‘s second season has already been indefinitely postponed. Could Doctor Odyssey join that club?

The sexy Joshua Jackson medical drama set at sea (what a set of words that is) nabbed ratings records upon debut both on ABC and Hulu. The series also finished up its first season this week, but somehow, the show still remains on the renewal bubble, so it’s time to check whether that status has changed.

Has Doctor Odyssey Been Cancelled Or Renewed?

None of the above. Yet. Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva has updated the situation following Disney’s upfront presentation this week, and Doctor Odyssey has been replaced by another (new) Ryan Murphy series, 9-1-1: Nashville, on the fall 2025 lineup.

That isn’t the greatest news, but it’s also important to remember that this isn’t a cancellation, and ideally, this is merely a postponement because, yup, Ryan Murphy is incredibly busy:

“Doctor Odyssey isn’t currently on our schedule,” Craig Erwich, President, Disney Television Group, told Deadline. “Ryan’s really busy. He’s doing a lot with us. 9-1-1, 9-1-1 Nashville, All’s Fair [for Hulu]. So we’re just continuing that creative conversations with him.”

To hammer home the point of this not being an axing, President of Disney TV Studios Eric Schrier further told Deadline, “I really love Doctor Odyssey, I think it’s a wildly inventive show.” However, “That decision ultimately lies with Ryan Murphy, whether Ryan wants to continue to do it.” There is a deadline for that decision since the cast options will expire in June, but at least there will be definitive word by then on whether Doctor Odyssey will set sail again.

On the outside, Rico Nasty is a tough-as-nails genre-bending recording artist. But on the inside, the “Butterfly Kisses” musician is a big ol’ softie.

Today (May 16), Rico Nasty shared a slice of her more delicate side in the official music video for “Crash.” On the Lethal single, Rico opens up about feeling safe enough to fully surrender to love. But in typical Rico fashion, inside of gently giving into the emotional force, she wants to attack it like a bull in a china shop.

“I used to, but now I can’t pretend / I want it, I want to do it again / And again and again and again / When you crash into me and I curl like a wave / Now I’m screaming out, “This time you can stay / When you crash into me, I forgive all the pain / And I’m begging you, this time you can stay / This time you can stay / Need somewhere to crash like the waves,” sings Rico.

Director Devin Desouza amplifies that romantic intensity as Rico and her lover navigates the ebbs and flows of their relationship.

Watch Rico Nasty’s official video for “Crash” above.

Lethal is out now via Fueled By Ramen. Find more information here.

Fresh off his spring Dlow Tour, Florida rapper Bossman Dlow drops off his latest single, “Hit” with an assist from Southern rap godfather Gucci Mane.

The 2024 XXL Freshman had a massive breakout last year behind the TikTok trendiness of his song “Get In With Me,” and looks to continue blowing up in 2025. Certainly, getting a co-sign from one of rap’s premiere golden ears might just help.

While plenty of rappers rob banks in their music videos, in the video for “Hit,” Bossman Dlow and Gucci Mane instead own the bank, which apparently doubles as a strip club during business hours. Throughout the video, various customers hit them up for additional funds, but it doesn’t look like they’re interested, what with modern interest rates and what not. Plus, it looks like they do business in all cash. As Dlow yells in his verse, “You broke, boy, ain’t got no business over here!”

“Hit” is Bossman Dlow’s first new single since releasing his debut album, Dlow Curry, in December. Whether it’s the first single from a follow-up full-length or an add-on for a deluxe edition remains to be seen, but Dlow himself looks more like a sure thing than ever.

Watch Bossman Dlow’s “Hit” video featuring Gucci Mane above.

Today (May 16) Jin’s sophomore solo album, Echo, hit streaming platforms. To celebrate its release “Running Wild” singer shared a moody new visual from the project.

On “Don’t Say You Love Me,” Jin sheds the BTS playboy image to expose his emotional vulnerability. In the visual, directed by Yongseok Choi, Jin is haunted by the ghost of his romantic past.

“I really thought I made up my mind / Hopped in the car and put it in drive / I tried to leave, like, a hundred times / But something’s stoppin’ me every time, oh-ho / Fakin’ a smile while we’re breakin’ apart / Oh, I never, never, never meant to take it this far / Too late to save me, so don’t even start / Oh, you never meant to hurt me, but you’re makin’ it hard,” sings Jin.

Filmed in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board, Jin can’t avoid his former lover’s essence as he tries to enjoy a day out at popular hot spots Goldhill Plaza, Marina Bay, National Gallery Singapore, Anderson Bridge, Singapore Flyer, and more.

Jin fans can experience the ballad live when his #RUNSEOKJIN_EP.TOUR kicks off next month.

Watch Jin’s official video for “Don’t Say You Love Me” above.

Echo is out now via BigHit Music. Find more information here.

Lola Young had a breakout 2024 with her album This Wasn’t Meant for You Anyway, featuring hit single “Messy.” Now, following a high-profile set at Coachella, the South London singer has released a new song, “One Thing.” The chorus packs a punch, not unlike the swing Young takes while sparring in a boxing ring in the song’s music video. But what is the titular “One Thing”? Well…

Young described “One Thing” as “a song that on first listen sounds like I’m talking about one thing. Sex. Which I am, of course. However sex in itself is never about one thing.” About the Dave Meyers-directed video, she added, “I wanted to make a song and music video that is thought-provoking and highlights sex being both a fun and light thing, not always meaningful, as well as showing how gender roles can be reversed.”

Last year, “Messy” peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became the first debut single from a female artist since Lorde’s “Royals” (!) to reach the top of both the Pop and Alternative Airplay charts. You can catch Young at All Things Go in both the Washington D.C. and New York City dates.

You can listen to “One Thing” above.

Pete USA is back: After sharing “Model Train Town” and “The Milkman,” Petey USA has officially announced a new album, The Yips, set for release on July 11.

He also dropped a new single, “As Two People Drift Apart.” The song arrives alongside a video co-starring influencer/gamer/model Vince Hacker. The song and video both are spiritual successors to Petey’s “Don’t Tell The Boys.” Given Petey’s offbeat and hilarious social media presence, the visual is full of absurd silliness.

Petey says of the project:

“The album’s about going through a period where just nothing’s clicking, so you go to a bar where everyone can collect themselves and get drunk. […] I don’t want to get into the toxic part of masculinity, but I also want to avoid the other side of it that weaponizes therapy-talk. I’m just singing about being there for your friends.”

He also said of working on the project with producer and former Death Cab For Cutie member Chris Walla, “That’s one of the few bands whose discography I know inside and out. I’ve watched documentaries on how he made Death Cab records like Transatlanticism. So he was my number one choice.”

Watch the “As Two People Drift Apart” video above, and find Petey’s upcoming tour dates below, which include some album release shows.

Petey USA’s 2025 Tour Dates

07/09 — Chicago, IL @ Metro *
07/11 — Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg *
07/15 — West Hollywood, CA @ The Troubadour *
07/25 — Columbia, MD @ Chrysalis at Merriweather Park #
07/26 — Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony Summer Stage #
07/27 — LaFayette, NY @ Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards #
08/30 — Huntington, WV @ Joan C. Edwards Stadium ^

* The Yips album release show
# supporting Rainbow Kitten Surprise
^ supporting Zach Bryan

The Yips is out 7/11 via Capitol Records. Find more information here.

Warmer weather is officially on the horizon in many countries, but nothing is as hot as Lisa’s feelings for an unknown lover. Well, that’s the message on Lisa’s latest Alter Ego single, “When I’m With You” featuring Tyla.

Today (May 16), Lisa and director Olivia De Camps leaned into those summer elements and her tale of a blazing romance for “When I’m With You” music video. From hot and heavy choreography breaks to cool waves of poolside shots, Lisa and Tyla how effortless fluid they can blend their sounds.

“But they don’t know what I know / But they don’t know what I know / Told me I should leave you alone / Told me, ‘Stay your ass at home’ / But I don’t mind / Could’ve been a good girl, but I won’t be / I’ma turn one night to a whole week / I’ma let you control me / Give it to me good like you own me / All my pride goes out the window / When I’m with you,” sings Tyla.

Lisa flexes her raps skills: “Quick trip, one way, and I’m there for you / Good girl, I’ll dare, but I’m bad for you / Elevate my space and my bed for you / Anyways, any day, I make plans for you / Like it when you tell me what to do / Like it when you tell me, ‘Break the rules’ / I like that side of me when we get together / I’m way better / When I’m with you.”

Watch Lisa’s official video for “When I’m With You” featuring Tyla above.

Alter Ego is out now via LLOUD Co./RCA Records. Find more information here.

We have a bit of an awards season going on right now. The 2025 American Music Awards are set for May 26, and that’ll be quickly followed by the BET Awards on June 9, airing live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET. Aside from awards, the show will also feature performances, and now the first wave of the lineup has been unveiled: Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti, and Leon Thomas.

It was also previously announced that Kevin Hart is hosting.

Connie Orlando — EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET — said in a statement, “We’re setting the tone for a night that celebrates 25 years of impact, creativity, and Black culture. With electrifying performances from some of the biggest names in music and an iconic comedic host, ‘BET Awards’ 2025 will be a can’t-miss celebration of everything the culture represents.”

As far as nominations, Kendrick Lamar is the leader with ten nods. After him, Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla have six each. Then, Metro Boomin has five, while SZA and The Weeknd have four each.

Meanwhile, Wayne recently revealed he didn’t watch Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, saying, “Every time I looked, it was nothing that made me want to go inside and see what was going on.” He also added that he wouldn’t want to do his own performance anymore: “They stole that feeling. I don’t want to do it. It was perfect.”