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Early Tuesday morning, the tracklist to the soundtrack for the highly-anticipated film Judas And The Black Messiah was made public. Of its 22 tracks, one undeniable highlight came with Jay-Z and Nipsey Hussle’s “What It Feels Like” collaboration. It was the first and sadly the last track the duo performed together, and it arrives as we approach the two-year mark of Nipsey’s death. A snippet, though, has already been made available in a new clip dropped on social media.

The video begins with Nipsey Hussle letting off a collection of bars before Jay-Z steps to the mic. In his verse, Jay aims to rally the troops to fight back against those who have oppressed him and his people. As for the rest of the tracklist on the Judas And The Black Messiah soundtrack, people can expect to hear contributions from ASAP Rocky, Black Thought, JID, Lil Durk, Masego, Nas, HER, who recently shared “Fight For You” from the upcoming project, and many other artists as well.

You can listen to the snippet in the video above.

Judas And The Black Messiah will debut on HBO Max 2/12.

Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Early Tuesday morning, the tracklist to the soundtrack for the highly-anticipated film Judas And The Black Messiah was made public. Of its 22 tracks, one undeniable highlight came with Jay-Z and Nipsey Hussle’s “What It Feels Like” collaboration. It was the first and sadly the last track the duo performed together, and it arrives as we approach the two-year mark of Nipsey’s death. A snippet, though, has already been made available in a new clip dropped on social media.

The video begins with Nipsey Hussle letting off a collection of bars before Jay-Z steps to the mic. In his verse, Jay aims to rally the troops to fight back against those who have oppressed him and his people. As for the rest of the tracklist on the Judas And The Black Messiah soundtrack, people can expect to hear contributions from ASAP Rocky, Black Thought, JID, Lil Durk, Masego, Nas, HER, who recently shared “Fight For You” from the upcoming project, and many other artists as well.

You can listen to the snippet in the video above.

Judas And The Black Messiah will debut on HBO Max 2/12.

Nipsey Hussle is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Tuesday’s match-up between Texas Tech and West Virginia wasn’t just the best game in the Big 12, but the best game in the world of men’s college basketball on Feb. 9. For the most part, the game lived up to the hype with two top-15 teams squaring off in a competitive contest in Lubbock but, as the proceedings continued, the officials became a bigger factor. In the end, the referees whistled 49 (!) personal fouls in the 40-minute contest, taking away from the flow of the game, and Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard reached the end of his proverbial rope.

In the final minute and with his team trailing 77-71, Beard went off on the officials. Though it isn’t ideal to go crazy in that spot, the game was probably over given the time and score and, with that as the backdrop, Beard got his money’s worth while earning a memorable ejection.

There is a lot happening here but, as noted in the video caption, the best part may have been Beard’s decision to give West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins a fist bump on the way out. If that wasn’t the pinnacle of Beard’s performance, another highlight was the 47-year-old Beard sitting down on the floor as part of his mission to prove a point.

Finally, Beard decided to sprint, or at least jog with purpose, to the locker room after receiving the heave from the officials. The broadcast notes that Beard’s frustration had been boiling for some time and, with 49 total fouls including 29 on the Red Raiders, it is easy to see why. Still, this is an all-timer from a (very) well-regarded college basketball coach, and it draws attention to a game that was already prominent through the lens of the sport in early February.

Pooh Shiesty is just a few days removed from the release of his debut mixtape Shiesty Season. But he’s already backin action. He collaborated with Maryland rapper Big Flock for “187 Shiesty,” whose new video portrays the two hanging with their respective crews as they show off their money and jewels while delivering raps about the dangerous environment they often find themselves in.

Prior to the release of his debut mixtape, Shiesty spoke about what fans should expect from it. “You getting big Shiest on this mixtape,” he said during an interview on Zane Lowe’s Apple Music radio show. “I’m touching on all categories. Expect me getting versatile. It’s lit. You can expect some big features, shooting a video to every song on there. We’re going all the way up.” Examples of this have already been displayed through videos for “Neighbors” and “Guard Up.” As for the mixtape itself, the 17-track effort presents appearances from 21 Savage, Gucci Mane, Lil Durk, Big30, and more.

You can watch the duo’s “187 Shiesty” latest in the video above.

Shiesty Season is out now via Atlantic Records. Get it here.

Pooh Shiesty is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

If you’ve been following my picks for artists who just might take over the world this year, Claud is definitely on the list. Their debut album Super Monster is due out later this week, the first release on Phoebe Bridgers’ new imprint, Saddest Factory Records, via Dead Oceans. While Phoebe has been in the news this past weekend for a brilliant, somewhat ironic guitar-smashing incident, Claud’s newest track is a little more subdued. “Guard Down” addresses the feelings of fear and hesitation we all have when it comes to increasing vulnerability with someone we care about, but Claud manages to make the nerve-wracking process sound a little more sweet and gentle.

Layering crisp, simple beats and a straightforward vocal line, the feeling of the song shifts on the second verse when an AutoTuned, garbled voice takes over. If that isn’t a perfect metaphor for the ups and downs of trying to trust someone, and dealing with your own insecurities, then I don’t know what is! “Guard Down” follows up a few other previews of the record, there was the light-hearted lead-off single, “Gold,” the delightful “Cuff Your Jeans,” and the charming “Soft Spot” before this latest single. But the real magic is in hearing the whole record, which everyone will get to do when it comes out this Friday, February 12.

Check out the new track above.

LeBron James is enjoying yet another ridiculous season in 2020-21, operating as the centerpiece of the NBA’s best team at the age of 36. By any objective measure, James should be slowing down at this point but, with no signs of slippage despite an incredible amount of mileage, the Los Angeles Lakers forward remains the No. 1 star in the NBA world. While James’s level of play is worthy of extensive discussion on its own, Tom Brady leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl win reignited the “GOAT” debate across the sporting landscape and, on cue, James is in the middle of it.

While the question of which player has been better and/or more dominant in their own field is interesting in a different way, Brady’s ability to play into his 40’s prompted questions about James and when he will hang it up. James said Monday that Brady’s win was “inspiring for a guy like myself” and, after he turned in a triple-double in a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was asked about the future.

“Two different sports, two different positions. I don’t know how long I’m going to play the game. I don’t know how much more I’ll be able to give to the game, but the way I feel right now, we’ll see what happens,” James said, via Silver Screen & Roll. “I have no timetable on it. I have no year of, ‘OK, do I want to play until 30 this, or 40 that?’”

Of course, it isn’t terribly surprising to hear James deflect on a specific timetable, but he went on to say “the game will let me know when it’s time, and we’ll figure it out then.” In short, that makes sense in that it is pretty difficult to imagine James continuing to hang on in a reduced form and, despite his age, it is also weird to think about James actually declining, even if it has to happen at some point.

The Lakers are rolling and James is signed long-term, meaning there isn’t much drama with regard to where he’ll play next as there has been at various points in his career. There is still time for a final act, though, and it would be wise not to assume the end is too near given these comments and his obscene level of play at the age of 36.

David Hogg has dedicated his life to championing progressive causes after surviving the school massacre in Parkland, Florida almost three years ago, but his latest project is a bit more lighthearted: He wants to take on the MyPillow guy. Last week the March for Our Lives organizer announced he was starting a “pillow fight” against Mike Lindell, the self-made entrepreneur who has spent the last three months spreading baseless conspiracy theories about voter fraud in the 2020 election. And, mere days later, he’s already well on his way to making it a reality.

According to The Washington Post, Hogg already has a company and a name for his idea, which he first made public on Thursday, February 4. He informed Twitter it would be called “Good Pillow,” and within an hour it was already trending. And he’s done this all in mere days while taking online classes at Harvard.

Not that everything’s ready to go. Many aspects of the company are not fully there yet, and Hogg says he’s spent the last four days testing pillows. Some have claimed Hogg and his co-conspirator, software developer William LeGate are simply young people rushing into something without knowing what they’re doing. There’s been concern that they may overpromise on something they can’t deliver.

As for Lindell, he doesn’t appear to worried about him putting his company out of business. “Good for David Hogg trying to make a pillow,” Lindell told the Post. “As long as he doesn’t infringe on people’s patents, good for him.”

(Via The Washington Post)

Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks have decided to nix the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before home games, according to a report by Tim Cato of The Athletic.

The decision, according to Cato, was made by Cuban, who confirmed that the Mavericks intentionally have not played the game before any of their home games this season and will not do so going forward. Further reporting from Cato indicated the decision was not announced internally ahead of time, and many Mavs staffers only found out about it by observing the song’s absence pregame themselves.

The NBA is allowing teams to manage pregame routines as they see fit this season while many games are conducted without fans and typical traditions are not observed, but as Cato reports, Cuban has long expressed criticism of the anthem and its use in sports, as well as support for players who protest during its playing.

Cato also notes that the Mavs are believed to be the first major American sports franchise to forego the playing of the American national anthem before games. Whether the NBA allows the practice continue remains to be seen, though commissioner Adam Silver did say last season that the controversy surrounding the anthem meant the league would strive for “real engagement rather than rule enforcement.”

This past Sunday, Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl LV after beating the Kansas City Chiefs. The win gave Brady his seventh Super Bowl title, more than any player and any franchise in NFL history. Brady has gone all out with the honor, taking to his Instagram story on Monday with a plethora of posts about the game, each one paired with a specifically-chosen song to support it.

One of these was a picture that showed Brady holding up the Lombardi trophy as confetti fell from the sky. He posted the image to his Instagram story with 50 Cent’s “Many Men (Wish Death)” playing in the background. To the surprise of no one, the post caught the attention of the rapper himself, who decided to show love to the quarterback. The Queens native shared a picture of himself rocking five rings on his hand to Instagram with the caption, “Tom Brady has more super bowl rings than all 32 NFL Teams. I’m on the same sh*t just watch the [TV]. Green light Gang.” In another post, he shared a screenshot of Brady’s story and wrote, “The winners theme is still many men.” Another win for Tom Brady.

On Tuesday, the impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump began, and the former president received some good news and bad. The good (for him): Though the Senate voted to proceed with a trial, only six Republicans were officially on-board. That leaves 44 from the GOP, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have his back and are unlikely to budge. The bad news is his two lawyers were roundly criticized for their rambling opening statements, and not only by Democrats — Republicans and, reportedly, Trump himself thought they were terrible, too.

As per CNN, Trump was “deeply unhappy” with the performance of attorney David Castor Jr., and for good reason: For one thing, he actually admitted his client lost the election. According to multiple sources, he was “almost screaming” during the opening argument, which was called out as meandering and evasive, spending minutes on end praising the chamber’s lawmakers while not addressing the charges made by Senate Democrats.

Normally reporters wouldn’t have to rely on sources to hear about what allegedly makes Trump irate. Thing is, he was permanently suspended from Twitter, as well as much of social media, over a month ago.

Trump wasn’t alone in disapproving of his legal defense. Other Republicans were cheesed as well. “The House managers were focused. They were organized. They relied upon both precedent, the Constitution and legal scholars. They made a compelling argument. President Trump’s team were disorganized. They did everything they could but to talk about the question at hand,” said Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy, according to Politico. “And when they talked about it, they kind of glided over, almost as if they were embarrassed of their arguments.” (Cassidy was one of the few in his party who voted to go ahead with the trial.)

Meanwhile Susan Collins, the Republican senator from Maine who’s often criticized for her weak attempts at pushbacks against Trumpism, thought at least one of his two lawyers was okay. “I thought the first attorney for the president today did not present a case, which surprised me. Did not make any arguments,” said Collins, who also voted to move forward. But she felt David Schoen, his other attorney, “did a competent job.” She added, “I’m puzzled by the presentation of the first attorney.”

Even Sean Hannity didn’t entirely approve of Castor’s speech.

There’s a good reason why Trump’s impeachment lawyers got terrible reviews, including from their employer: His previous legal team up and quit on him less than a week before the trial began, reportedly because Trump wanted them to focus on his baseless accusations of voter fraud. But for now, it appears the GOP isn’t going to let lawyers who were roundly compared to the stage-fraught public defender from My Cousin Vinny get in the way of letting him get, as one Senator put it, a “Mulligan.”

(Via CNN and Politico)