Black covers most of the upper, paired with a patent leather toe and heel. Royal blue detailing hits the Jumpman on the ankle, matching the branding from the shoe’s original 2000 release. A white midsole and icy translucent outsole round out the classic build underneath.

A few details set this version apart from the last retro in 2016. The number 23 replaces 45 on the heel this time around. “Jumpman Jam” text also returns to the tongue, pulling straight from the original packaging and design. That swap brings the shoe closer to its earliest release rather than the more recent version.

Full family sizing will be available at launch. Adult pairs are priced at $235, with grade school, little kids, and toddler sizing priced separately. Also the shoes will be dropping via through Nike, Foot Locker, Champs, Finish Line, and other Jordan Brand retailers.

Overall, given how iconic this colorway is, expect a highly competitive release once December is actually here.

Read More: SLAM x Nike Zoom Hyperflight “Starfish” Drops In Two Days

Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam”

The black and blue color blocking became known as “Space Jam” thanks to the 1996 film. Michael Jordan wore the pair throughout the movie, essentially giving it its place in pop culture.

That connection helped turn the shoe into one of the most requested colorways in Air Jordan history. It didn’t get its first retail release until 2000, years after the film’s original run.

Since then, the “Space Jam” 11 has returned twice more, in 2009 and again in 2016. Each version brought slight tweaks while keeping the same core color story intact, giving longtime collectors a reason to grab it every time.

This December’s release isn’t the only movie tie-in either. A “Monstars” colorway is also expected around the same window, giving fans another way to celebrate the film’s anniversary.

Read More: Julian Newman Defends Sister Jaden’s Leaks After Winning Boxing Match

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In clips caught by DrakeAligned on Twitter, you can see the 6ix God sing along, laugh, and smile while the Alabama singer-songwriter performed her mega-hit, “Choosin’ Texas.” This is the track that led to Drake and Ella Langley’s Billboard Hot 100 face-off. Upon the release of his ICEMAN trilogy, “Janice STFU” was the track to end Langley’s long-running streak at the top of that chart.

Some fans expressed shock at this appearance, but Drizzy has shown a lot of love to country artists in the past. Maybe they will collaborate in the near future, as they have two of the biggest songs of the year so far.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

Ella Langley & Drake

Drake’s respect for Ella Langley runs deep, as he recently declared she has a “Goated Pen.” He left that comment under one of her recent Instagram posts, so his fandom coming to life at the Little Rock show should come as no surprise.

Few artists this year have been as commercially dominant as those two, so a link-up celebrating their successes might yield even more great things to come in the future. But we’ll see what happens, as the Toronto superstar might hunker down to work on whatever the aforementioned “FOMO” tease is.

As for his pick for “Goated Pen,” Ella Langley’s crossed over into hip-hop before. As such, hitting the studio with someone like The Boy would be just another chapter in that saga.

Whether or not that’s actually on the cards remains to be seen, as this could just be a simple concert pop-out and nothing more. In any case, you’ll have a hard time escaping either of these artists for the rest of the year.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post Drake Pulls Up To Ella Langley’s Show After Praising Her “Goated Pen” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Glossy orange patent leather covers most of the upper, giving it a shine similar to a magazine cover. That detail pulls straight from SLAM’s own branding, tying the design directly to the outlet’s look. Grey panels wrap the collar and heel, while black detailing runs through the tongue and lacing area. White accents show up on the Swoosh and outsole, keeping the palette from feeling one note.

An embroidered “S” sits on the heel, marking the SLAM branding in a subtle way. The shoe also keeps its Zoom Air forefoot cushioning intact, staying true to the model’s original build from the early 2000s. The style code is listed as IV6130-800.

This drop follows an early heel preview that surfaced back in February. A pair of on-foot photos followed a few months later, giving fans a better sense of the colorway ahead of its full reveal.

Read More: Julian Newman Defends Sister Jaden’s Leaks After Winning Boxing Match

SLAM x Nike Zoom Hyperflight “Starfish”

Also this won’t be the only shoe tied to the collaboration. Additional releases are expected to include the Nike GT Cut 4, Sabrina 3, and Ja 4, expanding the partnership across current performance models too.

SLAM has covered basketball since launching back in 1994, blending hoops coverage with sneakers, music, and street culture. That history makes the Hyperflight a natural starting point, given how closely tied the model is to that same era.

The Zoom Hyperflight itself dates back to Nike’s 2001 basketball archive. It’s built around a sleek, exoskeletal upper structure, unlike anything else in Nike’s current lineup.

Bringing it back through SLAM gives the silhouette a fresh audience, while still keeping its throwback appeal intact. Overall with more releases expected across the collection, this “Starfish” pair looks like just the beginning.

Read More: Jury For Lil Durk’s Murder-For-Hire Trial Has Reportedly Been Seated

The post SLAM x Nike Zoom Hyperflight “Starfish” Drops In Two Days appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Julian fought Internet personality Thiirty at Adin Ross’ Brand Risk 15 event in Miami, and he actually came out on top. FearBuck caught a clip of the fight on Twitter, which included Newman celebrating the unanimous decision by defending his sister’s leaks.

“Biggest shoutout, thank God,” he expressed to BenDaDonnn. “Shout out my parents. Anybody that got something to say about my sister, suck my d**k. We on top of the world. F**k y’all. The next Kim K, like I said, b***h-a** n***as.”

Then, Jaden Newman took the mic. “Like I told y’all, all y’all was trying to play him. Look at him now,” she exclaimed. Jamie Newman, who’s been odd concerning Jaden, also had something to say.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

Julian Newman Fight

Elsewhere, Kick HQ caught a clip on Twitter of BenDaDonnn interviewing Jaden Newman. He asked Newman if the family was “in on this” and supporting her amid the leaks.

“Well, obviously, what happened was not… I got leaked unfortunately, so it had nothing to do with us,” she replied. “So obviously, we have no control of anything. Obviously, we’re just rocking out with whatever. ‘Cause we have no control of anything.” Ben joked that Ray J, who was in attendance, could give some pointers.

Also, Jaden had some awkward moments with Charleston White, Adin Ross, and Rampage Jackson at Brand Risk 15. White said folks can find the leaks on Twitter, which upset Newman and Ross, as caught by Killa on Twitter. midaqih also caught Jaden pushing back on Kim Kardashian comparisons on Twitter.

As folks continue to debate the Julian and Jaden Newman situation and clash with them, the family is showing that they will continue to stick together and support each other through everything. It’s a very bizarre situation, but they don’t mind the engagement.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post Julian Newman Defends Sister Jaden’s Leaks After Winning Boxing Match appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

This brought an end to an unexpectedly complicated jury selection in Lil Durk’s trial in Los Angeles. One of around 80 prospective jurors said Durk and his codefendants looked guilty, and the process slowed down. Elsewhere, prospective jurors answered questions from lawyers about their thoughts on gangster rap and the drill music the Chicago rapper made a name for himself through.

One woman reportedly said the music is suggestive of “violence,” another woman said the genre could affect her impartiality, and a man admitted to having “negative connotations” associated to rap. Another prospective juror said he had no right “to judge whether rap is good or bad,” instead being there to determine criminal guilt.

In addition, a defense attorney reportedly asked potential jurors for their thoughts on music “that’s not Peter, Paul and Mary or Karen Carpenter” with lyrics that are hard to understand. More specifically, the lawyer asked if these thoughts would impact fairness. One potential juror said she would appreciate “subtitles or captions” for the music.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

Lil Durk’s Music As Evidence

These conversations about the music Durk makes are important because it will be evidence in the Lil Durk trial. Judge Fitzgerald approved the prosecution’s presentation of various lyrics, music videos, and other material, including the 2021 “Pissed Me Off” visual. Also, there are other debates about evidence proposals regarding cell phones and other material, with the judge largely siding with the prosecution on some of these matters.

Lil Durk’s supporters also caught the court’s attention, but for negative reasons. The judge scolded a group of supporters for passing out “Free Durk” postcards in the courtroom. He warned of potential prosecution for contempt of court. Given how high-profile this case is and all the media debate surrounding it, the impartiality of the jury is key.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post Jury For Lil Durk’s Murder-For-Hire Trial Has Reportedly Been Seated appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The video begins with Fif smoking a cigar while wearing the new kicks. As for the audio in the background, it’s a clip from his Rap Life Review interview on Apple Music with Darden and Nadeska Alexis. In it, the G-Unit mogul speaks on the difference between the South and New York, arguing the numbers fall in the latter’s favor.

The clip also held 50 Cent’s jab at Ebro over New York hip-hop. The two had clashed over its decline, with 50 claiming the broadcaster has done a poor job supporting and influencing New York artists and Ebro claiming 50 divided the city too much.

Then, 50 Cent’s Rick Ross feud was the next item of business. “Sold out, fat boy,” Fif told the camera before laughing and showing off the new sneakers.

Elsewhere in the video, he also included other Rap Life Review highlights, such as him turning his back on Ebro and teasing Tyrese. Also, the video showed 50’s Verzuz appearance at the Joe and Donnell Jones matchup, which saw him link up with YG as well.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

50 Cent’s G-Unit Sneakers

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The G-Unit x Reebok G6 launched this week, over 20 years after its original debut. It reportedly sold out within two hours, and the NYC MC spoke to Footwear News about this success.

“It was authentic,” he expressed about the sneaker. “I wasn’t just putting my name on somebody else’s shoe and calling it mine. I was involved. The design, the marketing, the way we presented it. It all felt like me and G-Unit. People can tell when something is real, and I think that’s why it connected the way it did… Look at the response now. We sold out within two hours, and our design held up. That tells you we got it right the first time.”

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post 50 Cent Trolls Rick Ross & Ebro With The G-Unit Reebok’s Sold-Out Launch appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

As caught by CY Chels, the 6ix God put up a screenshot of the song on Spotify and tagged Game, adding two smoke emojis. The page also caught DJ Akademiks asking Drizzy to do this shoutout on his livestream just hours before the IG Story post went up.

“You got to show some love to The Game’s album, I’m sorry,” Ak remarked. “Drake, respectfully, I know OVO fans gon’ be mad at this… The Game has stood by you… Don’t do that Kendrick Lamar s**t. Throw it up on the Story one time for my guy… You got to acknowledge the motherf***ers who rocking with you. I’m just kind of going off history and kind of watching how a lot of n***as turned on you. The Game is a solid n***a… Not saying that if you post his album, it’s going to do hella numbers now. I just think we live in a time when you got to appreciate loyalty.”

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

The Game & Drake’s Relationship

For those unaware, The Game recently addressed his Drake and Kendrick Lamar relationships amid a lot of speculation about The Documentary III. Some fans think Game dissed K.Dot on the album, whereas others found his references to be more homages, shoutouts, or simple allusions and name-drops.

During an event, the Compton MC explained why he is still loyal to the Toronto superstar, but also said he has no static with the pgLang creative. He also spoke on not being able to get on the phone with Kendrick.

Amid all this, the main takeaway is about The Game still riding with Drake. While diss and beef speculation seems complicated at best and contradictory at worst, that’s the part of the story everyone is clear on.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post Drake Shows Love To The Game For Their “The Documentary III” Collab appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Smith shared side by side comparisons on social media, showing his old pitch deck next to Bieber’s shoe. His original design, referred to internally as the Ghost Runner, was built as a Yeezy 500 v2 prototype. It never got shown publicly during his time at the brand.

The similarities are honestly pretty hard to miss. Both pairs share a chunky, textured build with rounded panels across the upper. The layered, sculpted look on the sole also lines up closely between the two designs.

Smith worked on the original alongside a small team of Yeezy designers during his run with the brand. Bieber has not responded publicly to the claim, and SKYLRK hasn’t addressed it either.

Smith’s comments came through a short post posted to his page, where he confirmed the comparison directly. He didn’t go into detail about how the resemblance came about, only confirming that the design was his.

Read More: The Roots Announce New Album “Endgame,” Their First In Over A Decade

Steven Smith Claims SKYLRK Copied Yeezy

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This isn’t the first time people have pointed out Yeezy’s fingerprints on SKYLRK. The brand’s oversized silhouettes and stripped down branding have drawn comparisons since it first launched.

Bieber’s connection to Ye goes back years, long before SKYLRK ever existed. That relationship has made side by side comparisons like this one almost expected whenever a new SKYLRK sneaker drops.

Design overlap is common across streetwear and sneakers, and inspiration doesn’t always mean direct copying. Still, a former Yeezy designer like Smith naming a specific unreleased shoe adds more weight than a typical online comparison.

For now, the claim remains unconfirmed by either side. But it’s added a new layer of conversation around a shoe that was already getting plenty of attention before this surfaced.

Read More: Diddy’s Ex-Bodyguard Says Prosecutors Want Him To Testify In Tupac Trial

The post Former Yeezy Designer Says Bieber’s SKYLRK Shoe Copied His Work appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Reportedly, this process has been under Live Nation Urban president and longtime manager Shawn Gee, and returns to the “free-flowing jam sessions” the collective is so celebrated for. While we don’t have any release date information or other details about Endgame, this seems much more surefire than The Roots’ previous comeback teases.

Fans can’t wait to see how this turns out, especially after such a long time away from the group and their hardships. The same year they dropped their last album, 2014’s …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, their longtime co-manager and producer Richard Nichols passed away.

With that in mind, the band has a lot to dive into, and it’s been a long journey to get to this renewed place of inspired creativity. It’s been a very busy year for them so far, and things could get even more hectic.

This interview with Billboard celebrates The Roots’ induction into the publication’s Hip-Hop Hall Of Fame.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

The Roots’ Endgame

Elsewhere during this interview, Black Thought and Questlove also spoke on their Roots Picnic festival, which caused a lot of commotion this year. Jay-Z headlined the festival and had more than a few disses to let off against his opposition via an a cappella freestyle. The band performed with him, and they killed it.

Meanwhile, they had other successes this year, such as Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire documentary and the band performing at the Obama Presidential Center’s opening in Chicago. Black Thought has more music on the way, whether it’s with Danger Mouse or with Mach-Hommy. So fans will be eating good in the future.

Hopefully we find out soon when The Roots’ Endgame is coming out, as well as features and the like. Whether it drops this year or the next, it will likely be a stellar LP once it arrives.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

The post The Roots Announce New Album “Endgame,” Their First In Over A Decade appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

In it, he claimed he’s facing pressure to testify in the Keefe D trial and speak on Diddy’s alleged involvement in Tupac’s murder. Furthermore, Deal alleged prosecutors want him to take the stand and speak on Eric “Von Zip” Martin being the alleged middleman between Keefe and Sean Combs.

“They want to put an association with Keefe D and Diddy,” he alleged. “What they wanted Diddy at that time for is, Diddy would be the scapegoat of why there was such a thing called the East Coast and West Coast war. If he had Tupac killed, if he put up the money for Tupac to be killed, then it’s easier for them to say the gangbangers and somebody associated with Death Row killed Biggie. So now, we got to keep this going. We got to use Keefe D and his association with Diddy.

Read More: What Happened To Ailea Brown? Inside The Missing Case & New Legal Developments

Diddy’s Tupac Allegations

“We got to keep their association going along with each other,” Gene Deal continued. “So that’s why he was saying that they wanted Diddy. [Biggie Smalls’ mother] had that $400 million lawsuit against the LAPD. So they wanted to implicate Diddy in that whole stuff with Keefe D so they can get out of that whole situation of that lawsuit. They want me to show that Keefe D and Diddy had a relationship [and] establish what I know about Keefe D and Puff with each other, when they’re around each other, gambling, laughing, drinking… The whole nine yards… The lawyers’ job is to get up there and make his client as innocent as he possibly can… Keefe D wasn’t never no crip. Keefe D stopped cripping when he was 17 years old.”

Gene Deal has criticized Diddy’s misconduct before. But these comments suggest he doesn’t think Combs had anything to do with ‘Pac’s murder, and it seems like he has an issue with how this trial has been going so far. We will see how arguments on both sides continue to evolve.

Read More: Rapsody’s Growth As An Emcee, Told Through 10 Songs

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