Boosie Badazz is one of the more interesting characters in the hip-hop world. He has certainly made an impression on fans, and his social media is something to behold. Although some might find him offensive, others find him to be endlessly entertaining.

He is one of those people who stick out, no matter where he goes. This is especially true at basketball games. Boosie is a huge fan of the Atlanta Hawks, and he goes to their games quite frequently. Consequently, this can lead to encounters with prominent basketball stars.

Boosie Badazz reacts during the second half of the game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic at State Farm Arena on December 19, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Boosie Badazz x DeMar DeRozan

That is exactly what took place on Wednesday night as Boosie was sitting courtside at a Hawks game. The Chicago Bulls were in town, and in the end, the Bulls came away with the victory. Overall, it wasn’t the result Boosie probably wanted, however, he did get a huge gift out of it.

In the Instagram post down below, you can see Boosie standing next to DeMar DeRozan of the Bulls. The two had big smiles on their faces, with DeMar gifting the artist a signed jersey. Boosie was extremely happy about his gift, and it led to him dancing throughout the hallways of the State Farm Arena.

DeRozan has been having a solid campaign with the Chicago Bulls, and last night was another example of that. While the Hawks certainly suffered, Boosie came out on top, and for the artist, that is all that really matters.

Let us know the best souvenir you once got while attending a sporting event, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for all of the latest news and updates from around the NBA world.

[Via]

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen all joined forces to create one of the best teams of the late 2000s and early 2010s. They ended up winning a title together in 2008, and made it back to the Finals in 2010. Most basketball fans know this already. However, it is important to remind all of you that Pierce was that guy. In fact, just like Garnett and Allen, Pierce is in the Hall of Fame, and deservingly so.

Following his retirement, Pierce became an analyst on TV where he became known for his controversial takes and obvious Celtics bias. He was certainly one of the most entertaining voices over at ESPN, although now, he can be heard giving his opinions alongside Garnett for Showtime. Additionally, Pierce has been working on a whole host of different businesses. He continues to make strides in the Cannabis industry, and Pierce is investing in enough companies to keep him busy. Overall, it’s been a productive retirement for the Celtics legend.

Paul Pierce, presented by Kevin Garnett speaks during the 2021 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony at Symphony Hall on September 11, 2021 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Of course, the 2022-23 season started just a couple of months ago, and so far, it has been extremely interesting. Just like the rest of us, Pierce has been tapped in, and he has plenty to say on what he’s seen so far. With that said, we got to speak with The Truth for the latest edition of our “12 Days Of Christmas” series.

Throughout the interview, Pierce got to talk about the Celtics’ heartbreak from last year, the Ime Udoka situation, Jayson Tatum’s MVP campaign, and the difference between his era and the current one. You also may be surprised by who he thinks will be in the Finals this year.

This interview has been slightly edited for length and clarity

HNHH: Starting things off, when it comes to the season so far, what have your thoughts really been on the quality of basketball?

Paul Pierce: It’s been pretty good. You know, what is one thing that’s probably standing out the most to me? It’s kind of like the balance around the league. You know, you can’t just say one or two teams as contenders. I think you got about like six teams that can possibly win the championship this year. I really like some of the young teams who are thriving in the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans. They’ve been a surprise early in the season. Obviously, we knew the Celtics will be good after they run last year. But when you look and you see Golden State, you know, they not in the top four right now. It just shows you how almost better everybody else has gotten. And I liked the balance across the league this year.

In terms of those young teams that are contending, you see Memphis and the Pelicans, you but they don’t have the same experience as a Golden State. So how do you think that will translate for them as the season goes on?

Man, you know, this is the way I look at it. Golden State was one of those young teams before too when they made the leap and they had to get over the hump of beating teams like San Antonio, who was in the middle of a dynasty or just finishing up. And so yeah, they don’t have experience which is why I believe that would give Golden State their advantage because of their experience, because they’ve been in deep playoff rounds, won championships, and these other teams are still learning how to win. So hopefully, they’ll use the regular season. For some of them who played in the playoffs last year, like Memphis and the Pelicans, they were in the playoffs last year. So they have a little experience. So hopefully, you know, they can gain confidence from that.

Former Boston Celtics player Paul Pierce celebrates on the sidelines after the Boston Celtics beat the Golden State Warriors 116-100 after Game Three of the 2022 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 08, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

As a former Celtic obviously, you’re watching the team a lot. What do you think of their strong start to the season so far?

Yeah, I really expected them to come on really good, especially with the additions. Malcolm Brogdon really gave them some depth. I expect them to come on and be strong. Did I know they were gonna be this strong? I don’t know. But you know, right now, they look like the team to beat in the NBA. So they got strong play from the all-stars. Jayson Tatum looking like an MVP. Jaylen Brown is also looking like an MVP candidate too. So, you know those guys are playing well. They tough to beat.

Everyone is talking about Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum as an elite duo right now. They were an elite duo last year. But now they’ve really sort of kicked it up a notch. Where would you rank them in terms of the duos across the NBA right now?

I think they’re the best duo right now. I mean, you look at what they’ve been able to accomplish this year, even last year, when you look at the numbers, the numbers don’t lie. Jayson has given them 30 points again, and Jaylen giving them like 27 a game. So I’ll put them right up there at the top. You know, this ain’t no disrespect to the other guys who have got really good players, because you can name guys like LeBron and Anthony Davis, Kyrie and Kevin Durant? Joel Embiid and James Harden, and a number of other young stars with their teams. Murray and Trae Young… but I think I do truly believe that the [Celtics] got the best duo.

Coming into this season for the Celtics, there was a bit of controversy. They have a new coach, although one that was already in the system. On your end, how difficult is it for a team to overcome that mental hurdle, especially at the start of a season? Or do you think it didn’t really matter since they already had that core together?

It’s easy for us to speculate because when it all happened… Ime Udoka got suspended. It was just like, what he was able to create? What kind of culture did he make and taking into the powers you thought would kind of like, put a dent in their armor? But it looked like they got the leadership from within. A lot of his coaches are still there. A lot of the same players. They just added a couple more players, but I just think the infrastructure was there. And you know, when you got leadership from within from the sidelines to the players, and it just carries over, no matter who’s head coach, and because these guys have been together, they’ve won together. And they know what it takes.

Paul Pierce attends the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Going back to last season, you know, how hard was it for you personally to watch that Celtics team lose the finals to the Warriors, just having a personal attachment to that franchise?

It’s always tough. Game four was the game where I think Curry…That was the turning game. They got a chance to go up 3-1 and I just knew once they lost that game, I was like, ‘this ain’t right.’ They gave this team confidence and a courageous plan. Like the best player in basketball. So it definitely hurt. And I know they feel it more than me, because I was out there [once]. They knew that this was an opportunity, because you know, it’s hard to make it to the NBA Finals, and let alone winning. You can’t take that for granted.

What do you think the next step will have to be for this in order to get over the hump and be able to win a championship this time around? Because players like Jayson Tatum had it rough in the Finals.

Well, now that they’ve been on a big stage, they know what to expect. They showed that they was a veteran team, they didn’t get rattled in big moments. They understood the moment. Boston is a young team that has that experience now. So now, when that moment comes, they’ll know how to react better, and they will be better prepared. Not only for what it takes, and so on. And that’s that’s huge. You know, it’s tough when you’re going through your first finals against a team who’s been there, done that, you know, the lights, the media attention, all that can get to some young players, and you know, now that they’ve experienced it, I think there’ll be more equipped for it this time around.

As someone who won a title in Boston who knows what it is like to be on a dynasty in the making, do you think this current iteration of the Celtics has dynasty potential?

Well, yeah, I mean, I think the pieces are in place when you got two young stars like they do. A number of other young guys. Everything is in place, because when you looked at dynasties over the years, where you look at it, like how the Lakers did it when Kobe and Shaq were young, the San Antonio Spurs, the Golden State Warriors, you know, they had the infrastructure built with the young stars. And so that’s definitely there. But you got to get that first one. And once you get that first one under the belt, who knows what might happen with this thing?

Paul Pierce, NBA legend speaks during the NRL Grand Final Media Opportunity at Martin Place on October 04, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

In terms of the modern-day NBA, you look at a team like the Warriors and they’re probably the best example of a dynasty in the contemporary era. Especially with players always jumping around from team to team. What has been the key to the Warriors dynasty and what is the blueprint for future NBA dynasties, moving forward?

If they didn’t win that much, then you know, they wouldn’t be resigning these guys all the time and keeping them together. So you know, they gotta win. That’s what’s gotta happen for Boston to stay together and for these two guys to grow together. They gotta win. You know, they keep going to the finals and losing, you probably see a shakeout. Right now is their time. They are still young, they know they got two great players, and that’s what you can build around moving forward, but they got to win. And that’s how it always starts with culture. You know, Boston Celtics have created a great culture for winning and it starts at the top, also ownership, coaching staff all the way through.

I just want to know what your thoughts were on the Draymond Green and Jordan pool situation because that was such a viral moment for that team and it also had ramifications on their free agency situation.

Well, you know, it shouldn’t happen. I think Draymond knows that it shouldn’t happen. Him being the veteran leader… shouldn’t have ever come to that. And I know he realized he made a mistake. But you know, they can get past stuff like that. And I truly believe they’ve gotten past it. When you’re in a culture like the Golden State Warriors, what they have in their leadership and their locker room, they can sweep stuff like that under the rug, and move on.

Jumping into the difference between eras. You played in a more defense-heavy era. You guys always talk about how it was much tougher to play, it was more aggressive on the defensive end. Maybe expand on that and how the game has changed because now more than ever, we see guys putting up these insane 40-50-point games.

I mean, it’s not only the difference in eras. As time has gone on, they’ve adjusted certain defensive rules that really give an advantage to the offensive player. They don’t allow a lot of bumping, they don’t allow a lot of holding, you know, and so, they really try to preach freedom of movement. And so when you allow that, then the advantage, the advantage is always gonna go to the offensive player. And that’s why you’re seeing these guys putting up record-setting numbers, not just individually. Just the other day I saw Sacramento put up like 140-145 points. But it’s good for the guys. Guys are better shooters these days, from top to bottom, and that’s why we are seeing these types of numbers. 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 01: UFC interim middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (L) and former NBA player Paul Pierce (R) pose for a photo during a media opportunity ahead of UFC 243 at Marvel Stadium on October 1, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

In terms of just the young stars that are really dominating the game right now, who is somebody that you think could dominate in any era? Whether that be your era, the 90s, 80s, etc.

A lot of these guys. You got to figure that Kevin Durant, Kyrie, the Greek Freak. A lot of these guys will be dominant in any era… Jokic, The Joker. Steph Curry, of course.

Transitioning into your post-playing career, what are some projects that you’ve really been looking forward to doing or working on right now?

Right now, I’m doing the podcast with Kevin Garnett. We do our weekly podcast. I’ve just been doing a lot of investing in different companies. I’m working on putting together my documentary, as we speak, been doing stuff in the cannabis space, launching my brands in Boston, Phoenix, Ohio. And I’m gonna talk to somebody about starting my own long tequila brand. Why not?

What has it been like to sort of reconnect with Kevin Garnett and be able to do that show and just talk hoops all the time?

I mean, we just at the house chillin,’ man. We were really good friends. He lives five minutes from me, our kids go to school together. So it’s just natural for us to just kind of come together and talk hoops.

It’s still pretty early into the season but if you could pick an MVP right now, who would it be and why?

Right now, I gotta go with Jayson Tatum, man. I mean, because he’s leading the best team in basketball record-wise so far. He stepped his game up to another level. But it’s a long race, you know? But right now as of today, I gotta go with Jayson Tatum.

Just lastly, probably the Celtics are in there, but who do you think is probably destined for an NBA Finals appearance this year and who do you think is going to win, and in how many games?

Oh, I really see the Celtics are getting back in the finals. It’s gonna be tough because I believe it’s gonna be them and Milwaukee but I think the Celts are gonna win in seven games. I think it’s gonna be tough to find another team that can beat the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game series. It’s just hard for me to see them losing a seven-game series to anybody in the West, so I’m gonna go with them. I’m going with a rematch of last year.

Who do you got winning that series?

Celtics are winning in seven.

Awesome! Thank you so much for taking the time today. 

All right, no problem.

Shortly after Gunna copped an Alford plea, Walmart abruptly canceled the 5th Annual Gunna’s Great Giveaway. At this time, 1,000 families sign up for assistance from Gunna in partnership with Goodr.

“Gunna and the entire Goodr team were looking forward to brightening the holidays of the 1,000 families that registered. We are aware of how much the promised gifts meant to those families and we are collectively working to find an alternate solution. Registered families will be updated about the event’s status. Goodr apologizes for any inconvenience this unexpected turn of events has caused.”

Gunna didn’t allow Walmart to prevent his annual giveaway from going down, especially on the 5th year. The rapper and his team handed out $100K in gift cards to the families involved with the Gunna’s Great Giveaway. Jasmine Crowe, Goodr’s founder and CEO, issued a statement surrounding the event.

MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 07: Gunna attends the TAG Heuer Miami Prix at Jungle Plaza on May 7, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for TAG Heuer)

“… I wanted to inform you that we contacted all 1,000 families this week. Working with the City Of South Fulton, every family received their gift cards and gifts today. It’s important to note this event is in its 5th year. Since 2018, we have worked with Gunna to host his $100K Christmas Giveaway — this was not a first-time event,” Crowe wrote. She added that many families contacted her about the significance of the giveaway.

“It was essential to Gunna, his Great Giveaway Family Foundation, and Goodr to make sure that families received the assistance promised to them no matter what,” the message read.

We haven’t heard anything from Gunna since his release. However, it appears that he’s already back in the studio cooking up new music. At the same time, he continues to face backlash for admitting that YSL is a gang in court. It’s unclear what he has in store for 2023 but it looks like he’s trying to regain the momentum he had when DS4Ever dropped.

Check out Crowe’s full post below and sound off with your thoughts in the comment section.

Afroman has announced that he is planning to run for president in 2024.

READ MORE: Inside the West Wing: What sort of President would Kanye West be? 

The ‘Because I Got High’ rapper – real name Joseph Edgar Foreman – shared the news at a concert last Saturday (December 17) in Missouri, according to TMZ.

Performing at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff, the US rapper told fans that he plans to run for presidential office, meaning he would be going up against Donald Trump and Kanye West.

“Can I make the biggest announcement I ever made in my life?” he asked the audience. “I’m running for president in 20-20-fro! We gonna get legal weed everywhere.”

The artist followed up with a social media post, captioning a video of his live announcement: “I AM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA !! VOTE FRO, TWENTY TWENTY FRO!!”

He has since followed up with a post outlining his eight “main priorities” for his campaign: decriminalisation of cannabis; criminal justice reform; law enforcement reform; immediate halt of all foreign aid; reparations for African Americans; promotion of unity, peace, and love; promote celebratory displays in professional sports; legalisation of prostitution.

A third post elaborated further, signed off by a campaign manager, which highlighted the need for a candidate that is “truly elected by the people, and for that people”.

It continued: “We need a candidate that is truly elected by the people, and for the people. We need a man that can step up and lead with a firm hand. The people are starved for a Commander in Chief, that leads from a place of love and not hate. In these dark times, we need a leader that truly embodies the American dream.”

Last month, Trump announced he would be running again in 2024 “in order to make America great and glorious again”.

West, meanwhile, was a US presidential candidate in 2020 but went on to concede his run after winning 50,000 votes. At the time of his withdrawal, he announced plans to run again in 2024.

Last month the rapper then revealed that he’d enlisted alt-right voice Milo Yiannopoulos to assist with his 2024 run, who earlier this month departed the campaign.

The post Afroman says he’s running for president in 2024 appeared first on NME.

Nick Cave has shared the story behind the Bad Seeds’ “great love song” ‘Night Raid’ in the latest post on his Red Hand Files website.

The track appeared on the Bad Seeds’ 2019 album ‘Ghosteen’, which was written in the aftermath of the death of Cave’s son Arthur in 2015.

READ MORE: MEO Kalorama day three: Nick Cave holds a spiritual end of summer gathering

A fan called Alice wrote to Cave via the Red Hand Files site, asking what the song was about. Cave replied, explaining that it told “the story of the conception of our [with fashion designer and his wife Susie] twins, Earl and Arthur,” while they were on their honeymoon in New Orleans 23 years ago.

“I understand that it is probably a slightly dubious premise for a song, but like a lot of songs from ‘Ghosteen’, the words just arrived from some other place, with considerable force, and demanded to be taken seriously,” the musician wrote.

“In ‘Night Raid’, not without a certain amount of humour, the ordinary human act of carnal love takes on a quasi-mystical status as both an act of creation – the actual conception of the children – and also a poetic retelling of the incident as a cherished and innocent memory seen through the lens of the experienced and calamitous present.”

Cave continued to dissect some of the song’s lyrics, noting the line “They were just a sigh released from a dying star” refers to the twins’ conception, amongst other things.

He added that he sees ‘Night Raid’ as ‘Ghosteen’’s “great love song” and suggested it “attempts to present the idea that the everyday human gesture is always a heartbeat away from the miraculous”. “‘Night Raid’ tells us that our deeds, no matter how insignificant they may feel, are replete with meaning and of vast consequence and that they constantly impact upon the unfolding story of the world, whether we know it or not,” he wrote.

“In ‘Night Raid’, the common act of love initiates a journey through time that holds enormous consequence, that continues to impact upon the world – even now as I write to you, at five in the morning, after a show at the Sydney Opera House,” Cave concluded. “All action provokes change. Nothing is ineffectual. Nothing.”

Last month, Cave used the Red Hand Files to share advice for those considering getting a tattoo. In the response to a fan, the star shared the story of how he ended up getting a tattoo of a skull and dagger with a then-girlfriend’s name on it.

“Now, nearly fifty years later, as I stand before the mirror, I would say, Luca, that the tattoo is the least of my worries,” Cave commented. “It seems to be just one part of a general emerging calamity.”

The post Nick Cave shares the story behind “great love song” ‘Night Raid’ appeared first on NME.

The Home Alone soundtrack features tracks by artists including The Drifters and Chuck Berry – check it out below.

Macaulay Culkin stars as eight-year-old Kevin McAllister in Home Alone, who is accidentally left behind in suburban Chicago while his family goes on holiday to France at Christmas.

“Once he realises they’ve left him home alone, Kevin learns to fend for himself and protect his house against bumbling burglars, Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern), who are planning to rob every house in the neighbourhood,” an official synopsis explains.

“Kevin’s mother Kate (Catherine O’Hara) is frantic when she realises that she and the family have unintentionally left Kevin behind. She tries to make it back to Chicago as fast as she can, getting help from a polka band leader named Gus Polinski (John Candy).”

The film’s soundtrack was largely scored by John Williams – the award-winning composer known for creating the soundtracks to the likes of Star Wars, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones, and more. The Home Alone soundtrack also contains some tracks by other artists, including Chuck Berry and The Drifters. You can stream the soundtrack below.

See the full Home Alone soundtrack below.

‘Somewhere In My Memory’ – John Williams
‘Holiday Flight’ – John Williams
‘The House’ – John Williams
‘Star Of Bethlehem’ – John Williams
‘White Christmas’ – The Drifters
‘Scammed By A Kindergartener’ – John Williams
‘Please Come Home For Christmas’ – Southside Johnny Lyon
‘Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree’ – Brenda Lee
‘Run Rudolph Run’ – Chuck Berry 
‘Follow That Kid!’ – John Williams
‘Making The Plane’ – John Williams
‘O Holy Night’ – Adolphe Adam
‘Carol Of The Bells’ – Mykola Leontovych
‘Setting The Trap’ – John Williams
‘The Attack On The House’ – John Williams
‘Mom Returns and Finale’ – John Williams
‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ – Hugh Martin
‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’ / ‘End Title’ – Traditional, John Williams

In a recent interview, Joe Pesci revealed that he intentionally avoided Culkin on the set of Home Alone to ensure their on-screen relationship remained hostile.

“I remember Macaulay as being a really sweet kid and, even at his age, very professional,” Pesci said in a new interview with People, before adding that he “intentionally limited my interactions with him to preserve the dynamic between his character, Kevin, and my character Harry”.

The post Here’s every song on the ‘Home Alone’ soundtrack appeared first on NME.

A group of musicians will mark the 20th anniversary of Joe Strummer’s death by busking in front of a mural of The Clash frontman in New York.

Strummer died 20 years ago today (December 22) from an undiagnosed heart defect. He was 50 years old.

READ MORE: NME Explains: How The Clash wrote ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’

Dubbed the “Gates Of The West” holiday benefit, the event will take place between 6-8pm ET tonight in front of the mural of the legendary punk-rocker, which is painted on the side of East Village bar Niagara. As Consequence of Sound reports, if there is rain or snow during the event, the bash will be moved inside to Niagara’s stage.

Jesse Malin, who co-owns Niagara, will take part in the tribute alongside Gogol Bordello singer Eugene Hutz and members of The So So Glos. When the benefit wraps up, an after-party will begin at 96 Tears, Malin’s new bar next door to Niagara. Although entry to the benefit is free, attendees are encouraged to make donations to the charity Music & Memory, according to a poster.

Earlier this year, a new box set featuring music by Strummer and his post-The Clash band The Mescaleros was released. ‘Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years’ arrived on September 16 via Dark Horse Records and was the first time a comprehensive anthology of the band’s work had been collated.

The box set featured 15 rare and unreleased tracks, alongside some of the first demos Strummer wrote for the group and remastered versions of the band’s three studio albums – ‘Rock Art And The X-Ray Style (1999), ‘Global A Go-Go’ (2001) and ‘Streetcore’ (2003), the latter of which was released posthumously.

Prior to that release, The Clash shared a new special edition of ‘Combat Rock’ in May of this year, featuring 12 additional tracks compiled by the surviving members of the iconic band. Their collaborations with the late Ranking Roger also received their first-ever official release within a separate two-track EP.

The post Musicians to mark 20th anniversary of Joe Strummer’s death by busking at NYC mural appeared first on NME.