GRUNGECAKE

Category: Sports

  • Kendrick Lamar to perform at Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in 2025

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    Today, Roc Nation, Apple Music, and the NFL announced Kendrick Lamar will perform at the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday, February 9, 2025, airing on FOX.

    “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.” – Kendrick Lamar

    “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for Hip-Hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.” – Shawn “JAY Z” Carter

    “The Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show is a celebration of the music we love and the incredible artists who make it, all on the world’s biggest stage. Apple is thrilled to bring this show, starring the absolutely incomparable Kendrick Lamar, to fans worldwide with Apple Music’s industry leading Spatial Audio quality along with tons of exclusive videos, interviews, playlists and so much more across Apple Music.” – Oliver Schusser, Apple’s Vice President of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Sports, and Beats.

    “Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar. Time and time again, Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundation of Hip-Hop.” – Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music at the NFL. “We’re excited to collaborate with Kendrick, Roc Nation, and Apple Music to deliver another unforgettable Halftime Show.”

    Multi-platinum, GRAMMY and Emmy award-winning artist and co-founder of creative imprint pgLang, Kendrick Lamar, has achieved massive critical and cultural success since his debut album ‘Good Kid, MAAD City’ released in 2012. Since its release, Lamar has accumulated seventeen GRAMMY wins, and became the first non-classical, non-Jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album ‘DAMN’. Lamar’s latest album ‘Mr Morale & The Big Steppers’, was released in May 2022. In April of this year, ‘Like That’ by Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and in June, Lamar’s record-breaking, ‘Not Like Us’ spent two weeks at #1.

    Creative Direction for Lamar’s performance will be provided by pgLang.

    The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show telecast will be produced by DPS with Roc Nation and Jesse Collins serving as executive producers, and Hamish Hamilton serving as director. Roc Nation will also serve as the strategic entertainment advisor of the live performance.

    Apple Music’s multi-year partnership with the NFL and Roc Nation brings together the Super Bowl Halftime Show — the most-watched musical performance of the year — with Apple Music, which celebrates musicians, songwriters, producers, and fans, and offers the world’s best music listening experience with a catalogue of over one-hundred million songs and immersive sound powered by Spatial Audio. Apple revolutionised the music experience with iPod and iTunes and continues the award-winning tradition with Apple Music.

    Earlier this year, The Apple Music Super Bowl LVIII Starring Usher became the most-watched halftime performance of all time and garnered three 2024 Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Variety Special (Live). In 2023, The Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show Starring Rihanna scored five Emmy nominations, taking home two, including Outstanding Directing For A Variety Special, a first in Super Bowl Halftime history. In 2022, Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J Blige, and Kendrick Lamar garnered five Creative Arts Emmy nominations. The critically-acclaimed performance won three Emmys, including Outstanding Variety Special (Live), a first-ever for the show.

  • Paris plans to name sports venue after slain Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei

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    “Paris willl neber forget you.”

    According to a report on Reuters, the French capital plans to pay tribute to the Ugandan Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei. It was announced on Friday by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. Unfortunately, the thirty-three-year-old marathon runner was set on fire by her boyfriend. Subsequently, she died on Thursday “four days after she was doused in petrol and ignited by her boyfriend in Kenya.” Kenyan and Ugandan media reported that Rebecca Cheptegei suffered from burns to more than seventy-five per cent of her body in the attack. She was the third woman, prominent in the sports world, to be killed in Kenya since 2021.

  • Lawrence Taylor, football Hall of Famer, arrested for failing to report address changes

    This week, Lawrence Taylor faced another arrest for not following conditions imposed on him as a registered sex offender. According to TMZ, the former football legend (ex-New York Giants star) turned himself in on Wednesday evening around 5 o’clock. He was jailed for failing to report changes linked to his residence. He was released Thursday morning (July 18). In 2021, he was locked up for a similar offence.

    His attorney, Mark Eiglash said the following in a statement:

    “My client, Lawrence Taylor, will be pleading ‘Not Guilty’ to the recent charges”, Eiglarsh said. “As with the previous incident involving the same allegations, Mr Taylor did not knowingly commit any criminal offense. This situation is a significant misunderstanding.”

    “We are confident that, once the prosecutors review the exculpatory evidence demonstrating Mr. Taylor’s innocence, he will once again achieve a favorable outcome.”

    Taylor was declared a sex offender in 2011 for being intimate with a sixteen-year-old girl.

  • Sprayground and Soulja Boy collaborate on anime-inspired backpack design: See photo

    It captures the high-energy lifestyle and extravagant personality that Soulja Boy is known for.

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    This month, Sprayground introduced its latest collaboration with Soulja Boy, inspired by anime. The Soulja Boy Anime Drifter Collab Backpack boldly features the face of the legendary and innovative rapper with blinding gold chains. In a statement describing the daring design, the company said the backdrop showcases an exhilarating blend of shiny cars and stacks of money, encapsulating the essence of luxury and success that Soulja Boy embodies. The name “Draco” is boldly displayed across the bottom in block print, adding a powerful finishing touch to this standout design.

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    Visit this link to purchase a durable travel backpack ($80). If you cannot order it online, you may find art and streetwear-inspired backpacks around the country in exclusive boutiques.

  • MTN Rwanda named official digital partner of the 2024 Basketball Africa League Playoffs and Finals

    MTN Rwanda will enhance the digital experience for BAL fans throughout league’s Playoffs and Finals

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    The Basketball Africa League (BAL) and MTN Rwandacell Plc (MTN Rwanda), a market leader in mobile telecommunications in Rwanda, today announced a collaboration that makes MTN Rwanda the Official Digital Partner of the 2024 BAL Playoffs and Finals.

    The collaboration will see MTN Rwanda enhance the digital experience for BAL fans throughout the Playoffs and Finals taking place this week at BK Arena in Kigali through promotions, sweepstakes, and access to Ayoba, an all-in-one free app developed by MTN that offers free instant messaging; voice and video calling; sports, fashion, food, and entertainment news; games; and other content. MTN Rwanda customers will also have access to BAL content on Ayoba, including highlight packages and episodes of ‘BAL Daily’, a magazine programme produced by the league featuring highlights of the games and surrounding events, interviews with players and coaches, and analysis from BAL commentators and other personalities.

    “Our collaboration with MTN will bring Rwanda’s passionate Basketball Africa League fanbase even closer to the excitement of the BAL Playoffs and Finals”, said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall. “As a pan-African mobile telecommunications brand deeply rooted on the continent, MTN has been instrumental in providing enriched experiences for its customers in Africa. We have a shared ambition to empowering communities, driving innovation, and building a sustainable ecosystem for long-term growth. We look forward to working together to extend this impact to BAL fans in Rwanda.”

    “We are thrilled to work with the BAL as their official digital partner”, said MTN Rwanda CEO Officer Mapula Bodibe. “Our customers can look forward to an unforgettable showcase of talent. As a token of appreciation, we will be giving out free tickets to our valued customers, so keep an eye out on our social media platforms for the giveaway. Additionally, BAL attendees will also receive a 35% discount when they pay for their tickets via MoMo. This collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting initiatives that unite communities and empower Rwandan youth, fostering national unity.”

    MTN Rwanda joins the BAL’s roster of partners that also includes Foundational Partners Rwanda Development Board, NIKE, Jordan Brand, and Wilson, as well as marketing partners Afreximbank, Bank of Kigali, Castle Lite, Hennessy, and RwandAir.

    The 2024 BAL Playoffs and Finals will continue on Wednesday, May 29 with two semifinals games. In the first game, Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) will take on Al Ahly Ly (Libya) at 5 PM CAT. In the second game, Petro de Luanda (Angola) will face Cape Town Tigers (South Africa) at 8:00 PM CAT. The complete game schedule is available at BAL.NBA.com and will culminate with the 2024 BAL Finals on June 1 at 4:00 PM CAT. Tickets for the Playoffs and Finals are on sale now at bal.nba.com and ticqet.rw.

  • 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) playoffs’ quarterfinals set

    The 2024 BAL Playoffs quarterfinal matchups have been set as Tunisia’s US Monastir defeated Angola’s Petro de Luanda 70-67, thanks to Firas Lahyani’s spectacular buzzer-beater from behind-the-arc, and Senegal’s AS Douanes beat Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers 63-57.

    [/media-credit] Firas Lahyani #23 of the US Monastir hits the game winning shot during the game against the Petroleos De Luanda during the 2024 Basketball Africa League Playoffs on May 25, 2024 at BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda

    Lahyani added nine rebounds, George Williams finished with 17 points and Chris Crawford dished out 11 assists for Monastir. It was Monastir’s fourth straight win this season, after they started their Sahara Conference campaign with three consecutive losses earlier this month. They outrebounded Petro 44-39, but ended the game with 15 turnovers and will look to get more organized offensively ahead of their quarterfinal against Rivers Hoopers tomorrow.

    Nicholas Faust scored 12 for Petro, Childe Dundao added 11 points and Yannick Moreira finished with nine points and five rebounds, as they look to face AS Douanes tomorrow.

    In yesterday’s second game, Abdoulaye Harouna led Douanes with 16 points, with Madut Akec recording 13 points and eight rebounds. Douanes were outrebounded 48-56 by the Hoopers, but were more disciplined with the ball, limiting their turnovers to 10, compared to the Hoopers’ 22.

    David Ike led the Hoopers with 11 points, but it was a dreadful night for both teams as they struggled to find the net throughout the night.

    The quarterfinals get underway this afternoon, with Al Ahly Ly taking on the defending champion Egypt’s Al Ahly at 2:30 PM CAT, while FUS Rabat will take on Cape Town Tigers at 5:30 PM CAT at BK Arena.