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Many of the biggest names in country will perform at the 2024 CMA Awards. The lineup for this year’s ceremony, held on November 20 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, includes Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Post Malone, Lainey Wilson, and Chris Stapleton. There’s also Sierra Hull, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes, Ashley McBryde, Teddy Swims, Thomas Rhett, Molly Tuttle, and Shaboozey, whose “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” just tied a Billboard Hot 100 record.

Additional performers and presenters will be announced in the weeks ahead.

The 2024 CMA Awards are hosted by Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning, and Lainey Wilson. The Yellowstone actress is up for Entertainer Of The Year, along with Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen.

Below, you can see the full list of announced performances so far.

The 2024 CMA Awards Performances

Luke Bryan – “Love You, Miss You, Mean It”
Lainey Wilson – “4x4xU”
Post Malone – “Yours”
Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” and “Highway”
Chris Stapleton – “What Am I Gonna Do”
Dierks Bentley, Molly Tuttle, Sierra Hull, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes – “American Girl”
Post Malone and Chris Stapleton – “California Sober”
Thomas Rhett and Teddy Swims – “Somethin’ ‘Bout A Woman” and “Lose Control” mash-up

The 2024 CMA Awards air on Wednesday, November 20 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and will be available the next day on Hulu.

Halle Bailey and DDG’s son Halo wound up becoming a bit of a meme in September, but that doesn’t mean Bailey always loves her child to be on display to a large online audience: DDG recently brought Halo into a Kai Cenat stream, which upset Bailey.

In a post shared on social media, Bailey wrote:

“hi everyone. just so you know i am out of town and i don’t approve of my baby being on a stream tonight. i wasn’t told or notified and i am extremely upset to have my baby in front of millions of people. i am his mother and protector and saddened that i wasn’t notified especially when i am out of town.”

On October, DDG announced he and Bailey had broken up, writing, “After much reflection and heartfelt conversations, Halle and I have decided to go our separate ways. This decision was not easy, but we believe it’s the best path forward for both of us. I cherish the time we’ve spent together and the love we’ve shared. Despite the changes in our relationship, our love for each other remains deep and true. We are still best friends and adore each other. As we focus on our individual journeys and our roles as co-parents, we cherish the bond we’ve built and the beautiful moments we’ve shared.”

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies took down the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. It was the first time that Morant got to play L.A. at home since the two teams went head-to-head in a tense playoff series back in 2023 — Los Angeles won in six games — and Morant sure did play like he still has that postseason failure on his mind.

In the 131-114 Grizzlies win, Morant tied for the team high with 20 points, along with five assists, four rebounds, a steal, and a block. At one point, he scored over Gabe Vincent and hit him with a too small … only for LeBron James to come back on the very next possession and get him right back.

After the game, Morant spoke to the media, and after saying that James’ too small was done “respectfully,” he expressed that he really does not like the Lakers.

“I don’t like ’em,” Morant told the press. “They knocked me out the playoffs … they beat us last time, I didn’t get to play, like I said, last year. They came on our home floor, beat us on our home floor, was laughin’, playin’, lookin’ at me, talkin’. My message was, I was in street clothes. This is my first opportunity to get back on the floor playing against them.”

As for the whole “getting a too small for LeBron” thing, well, Morant took to Twitter after the win and addressed that.

The Los Angeles Lakers fell to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, 131-114, as they attempt to navigate what has been a pretty difficult spate of injuries. One guy who hasn’t been injured, though, is starting guard D’Angelo Russell, although he saw his minutes cut on Wednesday — Russell came out of the game with 5:54 left in the third quarter, did not reenter, and only played 21:33 on the evening.

New Lakers coach JJ Redick decided to close the game with Gabe Vincent on the floor, and after the game, he was asked why he kept Russell on the bench. As he explained, part of it was just wanted to see what Vincent gave him, but with Russell, there were some things that he did not like to see.

“Level of compete, attention to detail, some of the things we’ve talked with him about for a couple weeks and, at times, he’s been really good with that stuff, and other times, it’s just reverting back to certain habits,” Redick told the press after the game at the 3:05 mark of the above video. “Wasn’t like a punishment, just felt like for us to have a chance to win this game, that was the route we wanted to take. Gabe, in the first half, especially defensively, was fantastic, and I just wanted to see what that looked like.”

Russell went 4-for-12 from the field for 12 points, three assists, and two steals before his evening came to an end.

The Charlotte Hornets are built around a young and exciting 1-2 punch in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. On Wednesday night, both of the franchise’s pillars needed to come up big in order for Charlotte to pick up a 108-107 win over the Detroit Pistons, with Miller, in particular, playing the hero in the waning moments of the game.

After a turnover by Miller, the Pistons went the other way and got a layup from rookie forward Ron Holland to take a 1-point lead. On the ensuing possession, the Hornets were able to get a good look for Grant Williams, who pulled up from behind the three-point line but was not able to convert. Fortunately for everyone in Charlotte, Miller was able to sneak his way into the lane and clean up the miss. He immediately attempted a layup, which went in and gave the Hornets their third win of the season.

It wasn’t the most productive night for Miller, who had 19 points on 6-for-16 shooting with six rebounds and four assists. But he got the biggest two points of the evening, so it’s safe to say that he had a pretty good evening. As for his star running mate, Ball had 25 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and two steals.

Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. We’re back, baby! After last week’s disappointing lull (we blame Halloween) this week SNX is back in full force with collab after collab after collab.

From esports lifestyle brand 100 Thieves, to sneakerhead catnip like Salehe Bembury to niche hip-hop artists like Aminé, this week is full of interesting brand collaborations that have us pretty hyped. Especially the Salehe Bembury collaboration, because it sees the young designer linking back up with New Balance, the brand that made him a household name amongst sneakerheads.

And that’s just us scratching the surface of the collabs this week. There are even more we haven’t mentioned yet! So let’s stop talking about it and just dive in already. Here are all the best sneakers dropping this week.

100 Thieves x Adidas Palos Hills

Price: $130

Adidas and the esports lifestyle brand 100 Thieves teamed up for the second time last week for a full capsule collection of apparel, but the standout is easily this week’s Palos Hills sneaker.

Featuring a leather upper with leather lining and a leather insole, this triple-leather sneaker has a low-profile classic fit with a simple three-color design, and embroidered 100 Thieves branding on the tongue.

It looks like a slightly edgier take on the Adidas Samba.

The 100 Thieves x Adidas Palos Hills is out now for a retail price of $130. Pick up a pair at Adidas.

Nike Air Max 1 ’86 BRS

Price: $150

We’re not alone in thinking the Air Max’s OG ’86 build, with the giant Air Bag window, was the superior design, so anytime Nike drops a new colorway in the old previously discontinued build, we’re hyped, and this week’s BRS AM-1 86 is no different.

This sneaker features a mix of green and bronze tones with a bright pink swoosh and a retro Nike Air tag on the tongue.

The Nike Air Max 1 ’86 BRS is set to drop on November 7th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Converse x Brain Dead Chuck 70

Price: $110

For Brain Dead and Converse’s latest collaboration, Brain Dead is going wacky with a mix of animal prints and patterns. On the Chuck 70 silhouette, Brain Dead is mixing six different patterns including zebra print, star print, camo, leopard print, polka dots, and stripes — a real cacophony of patterns. Does it work?

It certainly can. The real question is, are you stylish enough to make it work?

The Converse x Brain Dead Chuck 70 is set to drop on November 7th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $110. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Salehe Bembury x New Balance 530

Price: $129.99

For Salehe Bembury’s New Balance return, the designer is taking a stab at the 530 silhouette, taking inspiration from a hike Bembury took in the bamboo forests of Kyoto.

The sneaker features a mesh upper with nubuck overlays, synthetic accents, and a segmented sole unit, with green and yellow tones meant to evoke the interior and exterior of bamboo. Small hints of blue peak out throughout the sneaker, meant to mimic the way the skies looks through a bamboo canopy.

Bembury loves to look to nature for inspiration in his designs, and it looks like its working because this is one of the year’s best sneakers, easily.

The Salehe Bembury x New Balance 530 is set to drop on November 7th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $129.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Nike Air Pegasus Wave Light Lemon Twist

Price: $160

Another week, another take on the 2000s rave classic, the Air Pegasus Wave. This sneaker features a mixed mesh, textile, and synthetic upper with a vibrant green base over a full-length Nike Air cushion. It’s the sort of sneaker that demands attention, which is perfect for all those end of the year raves and dance parties.

The Nike Air Pegasus Wave Light Lemon Twist is set to drop on November 8th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Aminé x New Balance 740

Price: $129.99

The pop-rapper Aminé has teamed up with New Balance for a sneaker that pays tribute to his alma mater, Portland’s Benson Polytech High, combining a mix of royal blue and orange over an NB 740 silhouette. The sneaker features a mesh upper with synthetic overlays, a special Aminé branded tongue, bungee laces, and a translucent outsole.

It’s not the most groundbreaking design, but sort of fruit this Aminé and New Balance collab continues to bear.

The Aminé x New Balance 740 is set to drop on November 8th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $129.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.

Nike Dunk High Wu-Tang Clan

Price: $150

A legend returns! The Nike Dunk Wu-Tang Clan is one of the silhouette’s most iconic colorways, and this week it’s back, just in time for the holidays.

The sneaker features a leather upper with a color block colorway that combines gold, black, and white at the midsole, with special Wu-Tang branding at the heel.

Ever the kung-fu fans, the colorway is meant to evoke Bruce Lee’s iconic yellow jumpsuit in Game Of Death.

The Nike Dunk High Wu-Tang Clan is set to drop on November 9th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $150. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Nike Air Jordan 9 Olive

Price: $210

Closing our list this week is the Jordan 9 Olive, probably one of the best colorways to ever grace this silhouette. It’s a classic, released back in ’93 when the sneaker first debuted, the AJ-9 Olive features a leather upper with a mix of black and brown, with crimson red branding serving as a nice point of contrast, and of course, that jagged, toothy midsole that makes the 9 so iconic.

The Nike Air Jordan 9 Olive is set to drop on November 11th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $210. 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.

Pumpkin spice season gets a lot of flak and… we sort of get it. Every year, the glut of pumpkin spice products hits the shelves earlier and earlier, and each year, the number of things that become pumpkin spice-infused that shouldn’t be gets longer. But clearly, there are a good number of people who can’t get enough of this stuff; it’s not some conspiracy put on us by Big Pumpkin.

But if somehow we were able to eliminate every single pumpkin spice product from market shelves and cafe menus except for one, what would it be? You thought “pumpkin pie,” right? Because any other answer is wrong.

Pumpkin pie is the best pumpkin spice-infused food and it’s not even close. It’s a top-five Thanksgiving dinner staple, and if you’ve been tasked with pie duty this year, you’re probably going to want to show up to the dinner with the very best. That’s why — each November — we round up all the grocery store pumpkin pies we can find every year and put them to the blind taste test.

So here they are, the best grocery store pumpkin pies blind taste tested and ranked to help you win Thanksgiving.

Methodology:

To make this blind taste test as useful as possible, we targeted pumpkin pies from market chains with a multi-state presence. We did hit up one local So-Cal chain, Vons, but Vons’ parent company is Safeway, which is scattered across 16 states and carries the same products. So consider Vons, Safeway!

This year, Target unfortunately didn’t have a bake case pumpkin pie, so we picked up a Marie Calendar’s frozen pie to represent the brand.

Here is the full list of markets we hit up:

• Aldi
• Costco
• Sprouts
• Target (Marie Calendar’s Frozen Pie)
• Trader Joe’s
• Vons
• Walmart
• Whole Foods

Once we had all the pies rounded up, I had my girlfriend serve me a slice at random with a dollop of whipped cream, dug my fork in, and wrote down my initial impressions. For each slice, I made sure to focus on both the pumpkin custard and the pie crust.

Here are the results.

Part 1: The Grocery Store Pumpkin Pie Blind Taste Test

Taste 1:

A really nice balance of clove and cinnamon with a slightly dry, semi-mealy custard. I really like the bouquet of sweet, spicy, and slightly bitter notes, but the custard is really detracting from the experience. The crust is also a bit flat-tasting and bland. Not a great start to this taste test.

Taste 2:

Alright, things are looking up a bit here. The custard has a nice cinnamon and nutmeg vibe with a soft texture, and the crust is flakey but a little boring in flavor. All in all, this is a decent, if unremarkable pie.

Taste 3:

I’m torn on this one. The custard is the best I’ve had so far, it has clove, allspice, cinnamon, a touch of nutmeg, and ginger. It’s nuanced and full of flavor, but the crust is a straight-up travesty. It’s gummy, raw, and flavorless. The gap between how good the custard is and how bad the crust is is so wide.

Taste 4:

There is a dark, spicy vibe to this pie that makes it a real standout. I’m getting heavy doses of ginger and clove here, with a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom. Very fragrant in both smell and flavor.

The crust is interesting. It has an incredibly soft chew to it, and it’s noticeably thicker than the other pies I’ve tried so far, but the flavor is a bit neutral. If this had a more pronounced crust flavor, I’d like it much more.

Taste 5:

This pie has a lot going for it — the custard is the perfect texture, it’s silky and smooth, while the crust has a great flaxy texture and a butter-forward flavor. But the spice mix just doesn’t wow me. This pie tastes exactly how pumpkin pie should taste, but it doesn’t offer a flavor that needs to be experienced. All in all, it’s a good, not great pie.

Taste 6:

A great mix of spicy cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, with a nice butter, crumbly crust, but there is a funky, weird, lingering aftertaste that kind of ruined this one for me.

Taste 7:

Heavy on the cinnamon and clove on the initial taste which slowly morphs into having a spicy ginger and nutmeg finish. The custard has a great firm texture, and the crust is butter-forward, a bit toasty, and perfectly flakey. It might be too early to call it, but I think we have a winner here!

Taste 8:

This pie is incredibly wet. Just staring at it, I can see the glossiness of the surface, and that visual wetness translates to the texture as well. The custard is incredibly soft, almost soupy, with a ginger and cinnamon-forward flavor with a strange funky aftertaste.

While I find the custard pretty off-putting, the crust is on point. It’s buttery, toasty, and flakey.

Taste 9:

This pie is incredibly rich and decadent. It has a strong ginger and nutmeg character, a firm texture, and a rich, toasty crust. It’s a little drier than all the other pies I’ve tried today, but that’s a small complaint.

Part 2: The Grocery Store Pumpkin Pie Ranking

9. Walmart — No Sugar Added Pumpkin Pie (Taste 6)

The Pie:

I hate to be the guy that says the one pie with no sugar added was the weakest of the bunch but, it is what it is. Now, I will say this about the NSA Walmart pumpkin pie — it’s not awful. If you’re watching your sugar intake, but still want the experience of eating pumpkin pie this holiday season, this is going to get the job done.

It tastes just like a regular pumpkin pie, the only thing that makes it obvious that its NSA is the weird cracked texture of the custard, and the slightly strange aftertaste.

The Bottom Line:

It’s a compromise, but it’s still far from an awful pumpkin pie.

8. Whole Foods — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 1)

The Pie:

This one came as a surprise to me, Whole Foods Pumpkin Pie was just fine. It has a great balance of spicy flavors, but the mealy, gritty custard and bland crust really hold it back.

For that, we can’t recommend it.

The Bottom Line:

This pie is a straight-up skip. Whole Foods is pricier than every other market on this taste test, and you’re not getting more flavor for the inflated price.

7. Costco — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 8)

The Pie:

This is going to anger all the Costco fans but I just didn’t love this pie. That’s due to the weird soupy texture of the custard, and that funky tangy aftertaste.

Having said that, for just $5.99 you’re getting a pie that is twice the size of the competition, so there is definitely value to be had here, just don’t expect to wow anyone at the dinner table with the flavor of this pie.

The Bottom Line:

A perfectly serviceable pie that offers some real value. But there are definitely better options out there.

6. Aldi — Bake Shop Pumpkin Pie (Taste 3)

The Pie:

As I said in the tasting notes, I really love the spicy, cinnamon, and clove-heavy taste of the custard, and the texture is smooth and silky. But ultimately, we’re ranking this one sixth because of the bland flavor and the weird gummy texture of the crust.

Crust should crumble or be flakey, this one was, unfortunately, gummy and came across a bit raw.

The Bottom Line:

If you’re a weirdo who doesn’t like pie crust, you’ll like this pie. But if you’re looking for the whole package, this one is a bit lacking.

5. Marie Calendar’s — Frozen Pumpkin Pie (Taste 9)

The Pie:

This one came as a straight-up shock to me. I had assumed because this was a frozen pie, it would be severely lacking, but it wasn’t. The flavor was well-balanced and wonderfully spicy, and the crust had a great texture, and toasted buttery flavor.

It was just a tad bit drier than the pies we’ve ranked higher. Maybe that comes down to a baking error on my part, but I followed the directions to a tee, so I doubt that.

The Bottom Line:

Better than you might expect. Don’t write this one off just for being frozen. It comes through in a pinch.

4. Wal-Mart — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 2)

The Pie:

In past years, Wal-Mart has performed pretty poorly in our annual pumpkin pie taste test, I’m not sure if they’ve altered their recipe, or I just happened to get a good one this time around, but I thought this pie was pretty good.

But it’s not the sort of pie that is going to wow anyone, it merely gets the job done.

The Bottom Line:

If you can find a deal on it, pick it up, but if you’re looking for a pie that is going to compete with the best dishes on your Thanksgiving spread, this one is probably going to fall short.

3. Vons (Safeway) — Jessie’s Pumpkin Pie (Taste 5)

The Pie:

I feel the same way about Vons’ pumpkin pie as I did Walmart. This is a good, but not great pie.

But compared to Walmart, I think this one had a better blend of pumpkin spice flavors, and a much better, buttery crust.

The Bottom Line:

A very good pumpkin pie, but not quite great.

2. Trader Joe’s — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 4)

The Pie:

Last year we named Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Pie as the best grocery store pie, and while I would’ve loved to give this the top spot again, that’s just not how this blind taste test played out.

So what held it back? I’d say the soft and neutral-tasting crust. It’s a small gripe to have, but we’re relying on small nuances to separate the good from great, and while I think this is a delicious pumpkin pie, I don’t think it’s the best you can buy this year.

The Bottom Line:

Dark, rich, and clove forward. Trader Joe’s pumpkin pie is excellent, but there is a better pie out there.

1. Sprouts — Pumpkin Pie (Taste 7)

The Pie:

Here it is folks, the best pumpkin pie you can buy in 2024. Sprouts pumpkin pie wins for having a perfect blend of pumpkin spice flavors, a perfect smooth custard, and a wonderful buttery crust. This is the only pie I tasted today that didn’t have any noticeable shortcomings.

As soon as I had my first bite of this pie, I had a strong suspicion it would end up on top. If you’re looking to win Thanksgiving this year, hit up Sprouts and pick up this pumpkin pie. Hell, get two!

The Bottom Line:

A great balance of clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, with a perfect silky custard and a rich buttery crust.

Big news for Blackpink fans: Rosé is set to appear on a new episode of Hot Ones that premieres tomorrow (November 7) at 11 a.m. ET. First We Feast shared a teaser clip today, and in it, Rosé breaks down the chorus of her new Bruno Mars collaboration “APT.”

In the clip (found here), she explains that the chorus is derived from “a Korean drinking game” called “APT.” She then simulates what it’s like, alternating putting one hand on top of the other as she chants the songs chorus. She ends it with a “one, two, three, four, five, six” before explaining, “and whoever gets on the top takes the shot.”

She previously discussed this in a press release, saying, “‘APT.’ is actually my favorite Korean drinking game that I play with my friends back home. It’s so simple, puts a smile on your face, and breaks the ice at any party. One night in the studio I taught my crew how to play the game. Everyone was fascinated, especially when I started the chant, so we played around with it and I said we should make a song out of it… and after Bruno joined the track, the rest became history!”

That history is currently in the making, as the song has so far peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it her first top-10 single in the US as a solo artist.

LeBron James is in his 22nd season in the NBA, and has been part of the national basketball consciousness since he was, at least, a junior in high school. His presence as one of the most prominent figures in basketball hasn’t just meant he’s been part of the sports conversation for the last quarter century, but he also became the reference point for basketball in the music world as well.

Similar to Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Allen Iverson, LeBron has been regularly mentioned by artists in the hip-hop world and beyond. You can find hundreds if not thousands of songs that name-drop LeBron, both positively and negatively, and here we wanted to look at 23 notable examples of LeBron’s impact on the music world by way of the lyrics that shout him out, starting from 2003 all the way to 2024.

“Gangsta Sh*t” — G-Unit (2003)

I keep a holster on my shoulder like I’m John Wayne/Shooting these n****s lights out like LeBron James

One of the first LeBron mentions on a track came early in his rookie year in 2003, when Young Buck says he’s shooting like LeBron, which I have to note is a little funny given shooting was the one thing LeBron rather famously wasn’t very good at as a rookie.

“Gettin It In” — Jadakiss ft. Kanye West (2004)

N****s tryna figure out, since Kan’ came/Who the rookie of the year, me or LeBron James?

Kanye West, fresh off the release of “College Dropout” earlier that year, boasts his rookie season is as strong as LeBron’s in his verse on this Jadakiss track.

“Dough Is What I Got” — Lil Wayne (2006)

When it comes down to this recording/I must be LeBron James if he’s Jordan/No, I won rings with my performance/I’m more Kobe Bryant of an artist

Lil Wayne wouldn’t release “Best Rapper Alive” until 2008 on Tha Carter II, but his remix of Jay-Z’s “Show Me What You Got” two years prior asserted that position in the midst of his iconic mixtape run. To illustrate that fact, he made a reference to LeBron but became one of the first artists to use that as a bit of a jab, saying he’s more Kobe than LeBron because he “won rings with my performance.” I’m not sure what the first RINGZ argument was to be used against LeBron, but I have to imagine Lil Wayne doing so three years into James’ career was one of the earliest.

“Make Tha Trap Say Aye” — OJ Da Juiceman ft. Gucci Mane (2008)

Banana donk Chevy interior like the Lakers/LeBron James wrist when I’m f**kin’ with that caper

What did OJ Da Juiceman know in 2008 when he referenced the Lakers and LeBron James in back-to-back lines??? An aside, OJ Da Juiceman is an underrated Atlanta artist, and this isn’t even his best NBA reference off this album (“Nah Ming” is a classic).

“Empire State of Mind” — Jay-Z ft. Alicia Keys (2009)

Me? I gotta plug Special Ed, “I Got It Made”/If Jeezy’s payin’ LeBron, I’m payin’ Dwyane Wade

Probably the LeBron reference that pops into most people’s heads first when it comes to a rap lyric. By this point, LeBron had passed Michael Jordan in terms of being synonymous with the number 23 in pop culture. The reference is to Jeezy’s “23, 24” in which he says “I used to pay Kobe (24), but now I pay LeBron (23)” in the chorus, with Jay-Z noting that if Jeezy’s paying 23, he’s just paying Dwyane Wade (3). I have to say, there’s no way this was a profitable venture for Jay-Z’s plug if he was getting bricks for $3,000. Also, in hindsight, it’s kind of wild Jay-Z put this bar down a full year before LeBron left Cleveland for Miami to play with Wade.

“Dead Presidents II” — J. Cole (2009)

I’m nothing like these ho-like rappers, my whole life practice/To be the one, what’s it like to be LeBron

Another artist who has frequently made mention of LeBron (and plenty of other NBA stars), J. Cole compares himself to LeBron with shouldering expectations to be the greatest in this track off 2009’s “The Warm Up”.

“Popular Demand” — Clipse ft. Pharrell and Cam’Ron (2009)

Used to have this white b**ch, she looked like Madonna though/Heard that she f**king LeBron, but s**t, I don’t know/Like that, Bron-Bron? I had that long time ago

As mentioned in the intro, not every LeBron reference was the most positive and this was the time where LeBron fatigue had set in a bit. This one, however, had nothing to do with James’ failures to land a ring by 2009, but instead Pusha T offered up some allegations of impropriety in what I have to imagine is one of LeBron’s least favorite mentions he’s ever gotten.

“Gotta Have It” — Jay-Z and Kanye West (2011)

West: Sorry I’m in pajamas, but I just got off the PJ/And last party we had, they shut down Prive
Jay-Z: Ain’t that where the Heat play? (Yup)/N****s hate ballers these days (Yup)
West: Ain’t that like LeBron James?
Jay-Z: Ain’t that just like D-Wade? Wait

We probably could’ve pulled 23 references about LeBron just by these two, but in their triumphant track off “Watch The Throne”, Jay-Z and West go back-and-forth with a shoutout to the two stars of the Miami Heat at the time.

“Martians vs. Goblins” — The Game ft. Tyler, the Creator and Lil Wayne (2011)

Fall back like LeBron’s hairline against the Mavericks…he lost

Leave it to Tyler, the Creator to have one of the funnier bars about LeBron James, making both a hairline joke and a Heat losing to the Mavs in the Finals joke all in one line on this track with The Game.

“Believe It” — Meek Mill ft. Rick Ross (2012)

I ball hard like LeBron James/And Rozay D-Wade n****

The LeBron/Wade pairing made for a lot of song references in their time in Miami, this time with Meek Mill comparing he and Rick Ross to the Heat duo — these two also are frequent LeBron name-droppers.

“Timber” — Pitbull ft. Kesha (2013)

Club jumpin’ like LeBron now, Voli/Order me another round, homie

One of the biggest songs in terms of popularity to feature a LeBron reference, courtesy of Mr. Worldwide (formerly Mr. 305), who shouts out the then Heat star in one of his biggest hits.

“LeBron James” — Yo Gotti (2013)

I’m LeBron James, you a f**kin rookie

There are a lot of songs that name-check LeBron but Yo Gotti was one of the first major artists to release a song with James’ name as the title, using his name as a main part of the chorus.

“Bitch Better Have My Money” — Rihanna (2015)

Pay me what you owe me/Ballin’ bigger than LeBron

Rihanna was once a regular courtside at NBA games and a noted LeBron fan, so it came as little surprise when she mentioned James in the opening verse of her 2015 hit single.

“Sleep Walking” — Migos (2015)

I’m a fool with the rock like LeBron James

For a time there were few groups that were more prevalent at NBA games and All-Star Weekends than the Migos, and Offset led off their 2015 track with a LeBron mention in the opening verse.

“Trap Trap Trap” — Rick Ross ft. Young Thug and Wale (2017)

Renzel got me all day, I’m Kyrie, he LeBron James

By 2017, the references to James and a fellow star teammate had flipped from Dwyane Wade and LeBron to Kyrie and LeBron, which pops up in another Rick Ross track, this time in Wale’s verse.

“Nonstop” — Drake (2018)

Catch me cause I’m gone (Outta there, I’m gone)/How I go from 6 to 23 like I’m LeBron?

Another artist with plenty of references to LeBron in songs through the years, Drake’s 2018 hit is probably the biggest with a LeBron mention, as he plays off both of LeBron’s numbers from Miami and Cleveland (and L.A.).

“RNP” — Cordae ft. Anderson Paak (2019)

Cordae: I bought a Moncler coat for the times we were broke
Paak: I’ma wear it in the summer on LeBron James’ boat

This might be one of my favorites because it has nothing to do with basketball, it’s just Paak flaunting that his life is dope enough he might get invited to hang out on a yacht with LeBron.

“Disco S**t” — 03 Greedo and Kenny Beats ft. Freddie Gibbs (2019)

Dope game, brought the kilos on the plane/23, LeBron James, got my package on the airline, yeah, now

A decade after Jeezy’s “23, 24” and Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind”, LeBron remained the go-to reference for the number 23 in rap, as Freddie Gibbs proved again on his verse here.

“Está Cabrón Ser Yo” — Bad Bunny and Anuel AA (2020)

LeBron James, cabrón, yo juego toa’ la’ posicione’/Michael Phelps tirao’ pa’ atrá’, nadando en mi’ millone’

LeBron’s influence in the music world isn’t stateside, as he has been regularly mentioned by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, including in this 2020 track (along with Michael Phelps).

“All In” — Lil Baby (2020)

I go LeBron when it’s crunch time, it ain’t no holdin’ me

One thing you notice when you lay these lyrics out chronologically is how the narrative around LeBron changed constantly. If someone had rapped “I go LeBron when it’s crunch time” in a song in, say, 2009 it would’ve had a wildly different meaning than in 2020 when Lil Baby said it boastfully.

“Dynamite” — BTS (2020)

Sing-song when I’m walkin’ home/Jump up to the top, LeBron
Further cementing LeBron’s status as a global superstar, he found his way into one of the biggest K-Pop hits with a reference in the opening verse of BTS’ massive 2020 hit.

“The Scenic Route” — Dr. Dre ft. Rick Ross and Anderson Paak (2021)

Ross: In them funny pants, I had a gun in mine
Dre: LeBron James numbers, go ‘head, analyze ’em

By 2021, LeBron had climbed to the top of most pages in the NBA’s record books which Dr. Dre referenced in his boastful track going back-and-forth with Rick Ross.

“Meet The Grahams” — Kendrick Lamar (2024)

Hey, LeBron, keep the family away, hey, Curry, keep the family away

The most sinister of the LeBron mentions comes on Kendrick Lamar’s scathing diss track on Drake from this year, in which he leaves no doubt his feelings on the Toronto star and warns LeBron, Stephen Curry, and others to “keep the family away.”

Ahead of the 2024 election, Cardi B surprisingly endorsed Kamala Harris for President after previously declaring she would not vote in the election because of her disappointment in Joe Biden. However, despite co-signs from stars like Beyoncé, Eminem, and Rihanna, Harris’ campaign was unable to overcome America’s 200-year legacy of bigotry and sexism, allowing 34-time felon Donald Trump to return to the Oval Office in January 2025.

While Cardi shared (and deleted) a few spur-of-the-moment reactions, her official statement wound up being a consolatory message to Kamala Harris. On Twitter, Cardi prefaced her statement with an acknowledgement: “Before Kamala joined the race, we knew how this country is set up and what was probably going to happen,” she wrote, “but it was so inspiring how she fought and changed so many minds, including mine.” You can read Cardi’s full message below:

To Vice President Kamala, no matter what they’ve said to bring you down or belittle your run for presidency they can never say you didnt run your race with honesty and with integrity! You really put up a fight against all the odds that were already stacked against you! You never accepted defeat as an option which says so much about your strength and about your heart. You really wanted better for ALL of us! This may not mean much but I am so proud of you! No one has ever made me change my mind and you did! I never thought I would see the day that a woman of color would be running for the President of the United States, but you have shown me, showed my daughters and women across the country that anything is possible. Thank you for being an example, thank you for being empowered, thank you for being a real example of what the American dream should be!