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As one of the most influential hip-hop groups of the ’90s, A Tribe Called Quest is no stranger to basketball. In fact, one of the group’s founding members, the late Phife Dawg, was a big fan of the New York Knicks, and he immortalized former Knicks shooting guard John Starks in the song “8 Million Stories” from their 1993 album Midnight Marauders.
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To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the group’s formation, A Tribe Called Quest partnered with the NBA for a new collection with sports apparel brand HOMAGE. Right now, the collection is 20% off list prices for a limited time.
The new NBA collection mashes up iconic lyrics from A Tribe Called Quest songs, like “We on Award Tour,” “I’m Above the Rim” and “Represent, Represent,” with NBA teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, L.A. Lakers, Houston Rockets and much more.
There’s even new tees and hoodies showcasing Phife Dawg’s favorite NBA team, the New York Knicks.
Ahead, you’ll find our recommendations for A Tribe Called Quest x NBA collection from HOMAGE.
HOMAGE
A Tribe Called Quest x Cleveland Cavaliers ‘Represent’ Tee
$30.40
$38
20% off
HOMAGE
A Tribe Called Quest x New York Knicks ‘I’m Above The Rim’ Tee
$30.40
$38
20% off
HOMAGE
A Tribe Called Quest x Golden State Warriors ‘We On Award Tour’ Tee
$30.40
$38
20% off
HOMAGE
A Tribe Called Quest x Houston Rockets ‘Can I Kick It?’ Hoodie
$59.20
$74
20% off
HOMAGE
A Tribe Called Quest x Los Angeles Lakers ‘We On Award Tour’ Hoodie
$59.20
$74
20% off
HOMAGE
A Tribe Called Quest x Detroit Pistons ‘Represent’ Hoodie
$59.20
$74
20% off
As part of the collaboration, New York Times best-selling author Hanif Abdurraqib compares why A Tribe Called Quest and basketball go hand-in-hand.
“I came to the music of A Tribe Called Quest as a young guy, a short guy who played basketball — streetball — on the East Side of Columbus, Ohio,” says Abdurraqib. “What I loved about A Tribe Called Quest is the same thing I loved about what pushed me to thrive on the basketball court. You have to be inventive. You have to be innovative. You have to see a hundred different things inside of one thing. For me, there’s not just one move. There’s a movement that opens up several other movements.”
Still looking for your favorite NBA team? Shop A Tribe Called Quest x NBA collection at HOMAGE below.
Want more? For more product recommendations, check out our roundups of the best Xbox deals, studio headphones and Nintendo Switch accessories.
The recorded music assets of the $uicideBoy$, the rap duo from New Orleans that has evolved into an indie powerhouse with its own label, a touring brand and a mega-merch business, are up for sale, sources tell Billboard. The properties on the block consist of the group’s recorded music masters and its music publishing catalog, those people say.
The deal is being shopped by Tim Mandelbaum, a partner with the law firm Fox Rothschild, who reached out to potential key strategic buyers including the majors and some financial music asset buyers. While some sources indicate the masters and publishing assets are being shopped together, others indicate that some potential suitors have bid solely on the publishing.
Sources say the asking price for the duo’s masters — including a go-forward deal covering an unknown number of future releases — is above $300 million alone, while it’s unclear what the asking price is on the publishing; the duo’s blockbuster merch business is not part of the proposed transaction. In addition, some sources say the duo’s G*59 label, which has a roster that includes releases by Night Lovell, Ramirez, Germ, Shakewell and Chetta — who combined for 450,000 album consumption units in the U.S. in 2024 — is not up for sale, though others disagree.
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The cult hip-hop act has averaged an impressive 2.4 million album consumption units in the U.S. and 4.6 billion global streams annually over the last three years, even though their songs have rarely charted. Nevertheless, they’ve landed four songs on the Hot 100 — “Us Vs. Them” (No. 96), “Thorns” (No. 91), “Burgundy” (No. 86) and “The Thing Grey Line” (No. 71), all of which hit the chart in 2024 — and four of their seven albums have reached the top 10 of the Billboard 200. The group’s most-streamed songs include “Kill Yourself Pt. III” with nearly 708 million streams; “And to Those I Love, Thanks for Sticking Around,” with nearly 675 million streams; and “Paris,” with about 526 million streams.
According to Luminate, since the rap duo began their career, their masters have accumulated 11.21 million album consumption units, including 15.7 billion on-demand streams — and that’s just in the U.S. What’s more, the duo’s U.S. popularity has been picking up steam: the catalog generated 842,000 album consumption units in 2020, growing to 1.22 million in 2021, then to 1.93 million in 2022, 2.46 million in 2023 and 2.71 million last year, according to Luminate. So far this year, $uicideBoy$ has already garnered 325,000 album consumption units, including 439 million on-demand streams.
However, unlike many other huge recording acts, $uicideBoy$’s popularity mainly is in the United States. Over the last three years, the U.S. market annually accounts for about 70% of the catalog’s streams and almost 83% of its song downloads. On the other hand, that could translate into more upside for potential sales and streaming activity going forward, if a concentrated effort is made on establishing the brand globally.
But even with the group’s already impressive numbers and further potential for increased sales and streaming activity abroad, the price tag that sources say the catalog fetched also comes with some peril. That’s because streaming activity is still spiking and decay hasn’t yet set in, meaning there’s no telling where the group’s catalog activity will level out in the future. But the going-forward component of the deal provides financial safety rails for the acquirers, especially if that is structured as a joint venture.
Billboard estimates that the $uicideBoy$ catalog averaged almost $24 million in revenue annually over the last three years. After paying out for cost of goods including distribution and publishing, Billboard estimates that net label share is about $20 million.
On the publishing side, Billboard estimates the duo’s masters generated about $6.5 million in royalties annually over the past three years, with the two members serving as the sole co-writers on the vast majority of their songs. It’s unclear if all the publishing is up for sale, or the amount of publishing advances already paid out, but not recouped; either could impact the valuation.
Between the master recordings and the publishing, the combined net label/net publisher share (or gross profit) could be in the $24 million to $26 million range, Billboard estimates, depending on how much unrecouped publishing advances play into the deal. Applied against a potential blended 16 times multiple, the combined assets could be worth as much as $400 million. But that might be an over-valuation considering the catalog’s activity is still on the rise; most sources say the combined assets are likely to wind up bringing in upwards of $300 million if a deal is finally completed.
Currently, the catalog resides at The Orchard, the Sony Music company that signed the band and its label G*59 to a distribution deal in 2021. Prior to that, the band and the label had been with Virgin Music, a distributor in the UMG portfolio. It’s expected that the $uicideBoy$ catalog will move in the event of an acquisition.
As of press time, reps for UMG, a lawyer for $uicideBoy$ and The Orchard either declined to comment or had not responded to requests for comment.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Baggu’s beloved Crescent Bag has become a go-to for almost every occasion, from music festivals and travel, to work and weekend errands. The accessories brand now offers its Crescent Bag in a range of materials and colorways, from nylon to recycled leather, and the shoulder bag has been seen on everyone from musicians to influencers alike.
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But Baggu’s bags rarely go on sale and the Crescent Bag on Baggu.com can run upwards of $180 online. That’s why we’re jumping on this Urban Outfitters deal, which gets you the Baggu nylon bag for 25% off.
LIMITED-TIME DEAL
Baggu Medium Nylon Crescent Bag
$39
$52
25% off
Urban Outfitters’ surprise sale gets you Baggu’s Medium Nylon Crescent Bag on sale for just $39 — a 25% discount from its regular price of $52+. Made from 100% recycled nylon, the bag features a zippered compartment, two interior pockets and an adjustable carry strap. This medium size measures approximately 8 x 14 inches.
LAST CHANCE
Medium Crescent Nylon Shoulder Bag
$22.47
$52
57% off
Nordstrom Rack, meantime, has this ivory colorway on sale for a whopping 57% off. The bag is soft and lightweight yet super durable thanks to the nylon construction. As for most products at Nordstrom Rack, this one is on clearance and selling quickly, so we recommend grabbing this Baggu deal while it’s still live.
Crescent Belt Bag
$32.97
$48
31% off
Nordstrom Rack also has the Baggu Crescent Belt Bag on sale. The crossbody bag measures 7 x 12 inches in size and comes with an adjustable buckle-style strap. This bag is our go-to for travel, as it keeps our passport, camera, charger and accessories safely within reach. We’ve also used this bag while out for a light jog as well.
BEST BAGGU DUPE
No Boundaries Hands Free XL Hobo Bag
If you want the look of the Baggu bag but not the price tag, this No Boundaries Hobo Bag from Walmart is a great alternative. This extra large size measures approximately 14 x 14.5 inches and is made from 100% polyester that wipes clean easily with a damp cloth. Choose from multiple colors on sale at Walmart.com.
AMAZON ALTERNATIVE
Medium Nylon Crescent Shoulder Bag
And you can find this best-selling Baggu alternative on Amazon. The crossbody sling back features a similar nylon material and moon-shape silhouette. Amazon says the bag is lightweight, waterproof, durable, and tear-resistant. Choose from ten colors online. See full details here.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
A Complete Unknown may not have walked away with any Oscars this year, but thanks to the film’s success, Bob Dylan‘s memoir Chronicles: Volume One is charting on Amazon’s best-seller list right now. Ranking at No. 3 on the best-selling rock list, the book explores the legendary singer-songwriter’s personal experience in Greenwich Village, circa 1961, similar to the recent Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet.
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The 304-page book covers three selected points from Dylan’s long career: 1961, 1970, and 1989, while he was writing and recording his debut namesake album, New Morning and Oh Mercy, respectively. The memoir is an incredibly detailed window on the singers thoughts, influences, and personal reflections during these key moments in his life.
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“I’d come from a long ways off and had started a long ways down. But now destiny was about to manifest itself. I felt like it was looking right at me and nobody else,” Dylan writes in his memoir.
The autobiography also explores more candid moments like nightlong parties, literary awakenings, transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Taking side trips to New Orleans, Woodstock, Minnesota, and points west, Chronicles: Volume One is an intimate and intensely personal look at the revolutionary artist. One Amazon reviewer wrote, “for those who have followed his career since the beginning it’s a real treat, a long awaited boon to add to the long list of memories, lines and memorabilia.”
The book spent 19 weeks on The New York Times Best Seller list for hardcover nonfiction books, as well as, being nominated as one of five finalists for best biography/autobiography by the National Book Critics Circle Award for the 2004 publishing year.
Bob Dylan’s Chronicles: Volume One is available to purchase on Amazon and is currently 47% off right now. Act fast and grab this must-have collector’s item for only $10. If you’re a more audio listener, grab the book on Audible, which new users can get a 30-day free trial when signing up.
Bob Dylan ‘Chronicles: Volume One’ Book
$9.99
$18.99
47% off
$15.07
Buy Now on audible
This is The Legal Beat, a weekly newsletter about music law from Billboard Pro, offering you a one-stop cheat sheet of big new cases, important rulings and all the fun stuff in between.
This week: Jay-Z goes on the legal offensive to clear his name of rape allegations, Drake’s lawyers cite Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl show in legal filings, Cardi B wins a re-payment plan from a bankrupt gossip blogger and much more.
THE BIG STORY: Jay-Z Strikes Back
When an unnamed woman accused Jay-Z in December of taking part in one of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ alleged sexual assaults, it was a shocking expansion of the already-sprawling claims against the hip-hop mogul — made all the more explosive by the claim that she was only 13 years old at the time.
But less than three months later, the case against Hov has already been dropped without explanation and without a settlement — and now the superstar is filing his own case aimed at fully clearing his name.
Trending on Billboard
In a lawsuit filed in Alabama federal court, he accused the Jane Doe plaintiff and her lawyer, Tony Buzbee, of carrying out an “evil conspiracy” to extort a settlement from him by leveling the “false and malicious” allegations of rape. Notably, the new lawsuit said the Doe accuser had “voluntarily admitted” directly to Jay-Z’s team that the star did not assault her and that Buzbee “pushed” her to make those allegations.
“Mr. Carter does not commence this action lightly,” his lawyers wrote. “But the extortion and abuse of Mr. Carter by Doe and her lawyers must stop.”
Go read the full story here, including access to the actual lawsuit Jay-Z’s attorneys filed in court.
Other top stories this week…
THAT DIDN’T TAKE LONG – Just two weeks after Kendrick Lamar’s blistering Super Bowl performance, Drake’s attorneys called out the halftime show in court documents filed in their defamation lawsuit against UMG over Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” The star’s lawyers cited the show as evidence of the ongoing harm that Drake is “continuing to suffer” while the case is delayed in court. And it paid off: Following Drake’s filing, the federal judge overseeing the case sided with the rapper and refused to let UMG postpone an initial hearing.
DEFAMATION DEBT – Gossip blogger Tasha K agreed in bankruptcy court to pay Cardi B more than $1 million in small installments over the next five years — a plan necessary to start paying down a $3.9 million defamation judgment Cardi won against her for making outlandish claims about drug use, STDs and prostitution. Under the terms of the deal, Tasha will still owe the rest of the damages award even after she finishes the repayment plan, and she is barred from “derogatory, disparaging, or defamatory statements” about the superstar while the plan is in effect.
LILES ABUSE LAWSUIT – Kevin Liles was hit with a lawsuit alleging the 300 Entertainment CEO sexually harassed and raped an unnamed executive assistant while serving as the general manager of Def Jam Recordings in the early 2000s. Liles immediately denied the “outrageous claims,” vowing to “fully clear my name” and file a defamation lawsuit against the accuser and her attorneys.
GRACELAND SCAMMER – A Missouri woman named Lisa Jeanine Findley pleaded guilty to a bizarre plot to defraud Elvis Presley’s family by trying to auction off his Graceland mansion. According to prosecutors, Findley falsely claimed that Presley’s daughter had pledged the home as collateral for a loan before her death; Findley then threatened to sell Graceland to the highest bidder if Presley’s family didn’t pay $2.85 million. Following her guilty plea, Findley is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
DRAKE DROPS IHEART – Drake and iHeartMedia reached a settlement to end a legal action claiming iHeart received illegal payments from UMG to boost radio airplay for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” — a preliminary action that Drake filed last fall in the lead up to his defamation lawsuit against UMG. In a statement to Billboard, the radio giant said it had agreed to provide Drake’s attorneys with documents showing that iHeart had done nothing wrong and that no payments had been made by either party.
ROCKY NOT CLEAR YET – Just over a week after A$AP Rocky was acquitted on criminal charges that he shot former friend A$AP Relli, a Los Angeles judge lifted a hold on Relli’s civil lawsuit against Rocky. As reported by Rolling Stone, Rocky’s lawyer argued at a hearing that “there’s no longer a basis” for the case following the not guilty verdict, but Relli’s lawyer vowed to proceed: “The standard in a criminal case is much higher than … in a civil matter. We still believe that our claims have merit, and we intend on fully litigating them.”
THUG TOURING SETTLEMENT – Young Thug and concert giant AEG quietly settled a multi-million dollar legal battle over a touring partnership gone sour. The lawsuit, first filed in 2020 but delayed for years by Thug’s high-profile criminal case, claimed that the star owed more than $5 million under a 2017 touring agreement — and that he was obligated to hand over some of his music rights to pay down that debt. The settlement came as Thug is gearing up to start performing in concert again for the first time since he took a plea deal to end the years-long criminal drama in Atlanta.
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Source: WWD / Getty / French Montana
Hip-Hop continues to have a significant Trump problem. French Montana is catching flack for jumping on Lara Trump’s new song and has some headscratching “bars” on it.
French Montana doesn’t care where and how he gets his money. The rapper decided not to read the room and hopped on Lara Trump, the wife of Felon 47 aka Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump’s new song “No Days Off.”
Trump, who is basically a DEI hire in any job she gets, was the former head of the Republican National Committee, where she helped mold it in her father-in-law’s image, is now a Fox News host while also moonlighting as a pop singer.
On the god awful song, Lara Trump sings about her so-called image and career, bellowing on the songs first line, “”I’m a little hard to read/ You only know what they show you when you turn on the TV/ So think of this as a reboot,” before adding “work, work, work” and “can’t stop, won’t stop.”
The Coke Boys crafter didn’t help elevate the track either, stupidly rapping, “working like a slave, living like a king,” adding, “Me and Lara at your front porch, knock knock.”
French Montana and Lara Trump showing up on your front door is definitely something nobody wants, just like this song, that we will not be sharing.
The Song Is Getting Trashed
As expected, social media has been clowning both artists, specifically French Montana, for even doing the song.
https://x.com/BeanzGotGamez/status/1893066540527816903
“The new Lara Trump & French Montana song is a disgusting display of how someone with only a tiny amount of actual talent can slug their way up to the top of a corrupt industry. To a lesser extent you can say the same about Lara Trump, too,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Rolling Stone wrote about the song, “French Montana Can’t Save Lara Trump’s Atrocious New Single,”.
Damn.
You can see more reactions to the trash record below.
Sexyy Red is heading to Hollywood. Big Sexyy, Ty Dolla $ign and Ski Mask The Slump God have reportedly been cast in the upcoming movie Rolling Loud. Variety was first to report the news on Tuesday (March 4) of the hip-hop trio joining the comedy film named after the famed hip-hop festival, which also stars […]
No rick rolling here. Rick Astley took to his YouTube channel on Monday (March 3) to deliver a cover of Chappell Roan’s hit, “Pink Pony Club.” In his version, the “Never Gonna Give You Up” star strips the song down to just an acoustic guitar, which he plays while using his characteristically deep vocals to […]
Rapper, vocalist and now actress LISA continues to expand her solo artistry with the highly anticipated project Alter Ego. Fresh off her acting debut as Mook, a hotel staff member on HBO’s original hit series The White Lotus season three (which premiered Feb. 16), the Thai superstar leveraged the social satire’s cross-generational appeal to cement […]
Chappell Roan‘s long-awaited new single finally has a release date. After weeks of teasing — and nearly a year without new music — the pop star has finally announced when she’s dropping new single “The Giver,” and revealed whether or not she’s headed in a country direction on her next album. Sharing a photo of […]