Kanye West’s 2008 Grammy Worn Air Yeezy Sneakers Sell For $1.8 Million | The Latest Hip-Hop News, Music and Media


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KANYE WEST 2008 'GRAMMY WORN' NIKE AIR YEEZY SAMPLES SELL FOR $1.8 MILLION

Source: SOTHEBY’S / Sotheby’s

The nostalgia for the old Kanye West is hotter than ever. His Nike Air Yeezy 1 prototypes from 2008 sold for a record-breaking $1.8 million via private sale.

As spotted on CNN Sotheby’s announced this week that sneaker investing platform RARES has acquired the Kanye West ‘Grammy Worn’ shoes from 2008 for a record-breaking $1.8 million via private sale. The price sets a new milestone for a publicly recorded sneaker sale, shattering the current auction record for sneakers by almost three times, and establishes the Yeezy 1 Prototypes as the most valuable sneakers ever and the first recorded sneaker sale for more than $1 million.

KANYE WEST 2008 'GRAMMY WORN' NIKE AIR YEEZY SAMPLES SELL FOR $1.8 MILLION

Source: SOTHEBY’S / Sotheby’s

Worn during Kanye’s memorable and emotional performance of “Hey Mama” and “Stronger” during the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, the present pair unveiled Nike’s top-secret project and marked one of the most brilliant reveals in sneaker history: and made the Yeezy a pillar in the advent of modern sneaker culture. One of the most prized and sought-after sneakers in existence, the pair was on offer from Ryan Chang, a renowned sneaker collector.

KANYE WEST 2008 'GRAMMY WORN' NIKE AIR YEEZY SAMPLES SELL FOR $1.8 MILLION

Source: SOTHEBY’S / Sotheby’s

For more than a year prior to the reveal, rumors swirled that a Kanye sneaker was in development. In one of the most brilliant and hyped reveals in sneaker history, Nike and Kanye revealed during the rapper’s 2008 Grammy’s performance a pair of sneakers that even top aficionados could not identify – the only clue was a Swoosh. The sneaker world erupted in a frenzy, as blogs and social media lit up across a community eager to learn about the new design.

The Kanye West and Mark Smith designed samples were built in Nike’s lab – known as the ‘Innovation Kitchen’ – at the company’s headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon in 2007. The size 12 shoe is made of soft black leather with perforated detailing throughout the upper and the heel overlay is branded with a tonal Swoosh. The design features the iconic Yeezy forefoot strap and signature ‘Y’ medallion lace locks in bright pink. A custom lasered wooden box is included, which features a design and etching by the Yeezy 1 creator, Mark Smith.

Kanye West has yet to comment on the auction.

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Tyler Perry Accepts Award at 2021 Oscars With Plea To Not Hate Cops | The Latest Hip-Hop News, Music and Media


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93rd Annual Academy Awards - Show

Source: Handout / Getty

Recent remarks from Tyler Perry have confused fans after announcing his refusal to hate police officers during his Academy Awards speech.

On Sunday (April 25), the Atlanta media mogul recently took home the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his work in helping others and feeding people during the pandemic, per a Fox 5 Atlanta report. 

Perry using his billion-dollar wallet to help people in their time of need has been well documented over the year. His good deeds include: leaving $21,000 in tips at an Atlanta restaurant, paying the tab for seniors shopping at 73 groceries stores, offering to pay for the funeral of Rayshard Brooks and Secoriea Turner, donating $100,000 to the legal defense fund of Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, and feeding 5,000 families during Thanksgiving last year.   

And if you recall, he also offered his home as a refuge for the displaced former royals, Harry and Megan, during their riff with their colonizing family in England.  

Anyway, In his emotional story, Perry credited his late mother’s experience growing up in the Jim Crow South for learning how “to refuse blanket judgment” in the face of hate and adversity.   

“My mother taught me to refuse hate,” the 51-year-old said on stage at the Oscars. “She taught me to refuse blanket judgment, and in this time, and with all of the Internet and social media and algorithms and everything that wants us to think a certain way, the 24-hour news cycle, it is my hope that all of us, we teach our kids and I want to remember, just refuse hate.”

His plea for peace is a response to the nation’s increase in police shootings, hate crimes, and coronavirus deaths over the past year. However, his compassionate campaign for unity with people of different races and orientations randomly extended to law enforcement, which lost traction with supporters as they continued to watch the show. 

“Don’t hate anybody. I refuse to hate someone because they are Mexican or because they are Black or white or LGBTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they are a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian.”

Did he forget that less than a week ago, the nation watched the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin as he was found guilty on all charges for the murder of George Floyd?  How does one find peace with the organizations responsible for the tragic deaths of teenagers Ma’Khia Bryant and Adam Toledo within weeks of each other?  Make it make sense.

Moving on. Perry ended by dedicating his award to “anyone who wants to stand in the middle,” noting the space as a healing ground for those seeking peace and change.

“I would hope that we would refuse hate and I want to take this Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and dedicate it to anyone who wants to stand in the middle, no matter what’s around the wall. Stand in the middle ’cause that’s where healing happens. That’s where conversation happens. That’s where change happens. It happens in the middle. So, anyone who wants to meet me in the middle, to refuse hate, to refuse blanket judgment, and to help lift someone’s feet off the ground, this one is for you too.”

No offense, but the energy isn’t going anywhere as long police officers keep murdering people instead of using their botched training to deescalate problems in communities whenever they arrive on the scene. 

Photo: Getty





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Kanye West’s Yeezys Sell for Record $1.8 Million



Kanye West

Kanye West’s Yeezys are the most expensive sneakers ever sold.

The prototype Nike Air Yeezy 1s fetched a record-breaking $1.8 million in a private sale, Sotheby’s auction house announced on Monday. They set a new milestone for a publicly-recorded sneaker sale, exceeding the original valuation of $1 million. The “Grammy Worn” Yeezys nearly tripled the $615,000 sale for a pair of 1985 Nike Air Jordan 1s worn by Michael Jordan during a pre-season game in Italy.

Kanye wore the black leather high-tops with the Nike Swoosh when he performed “Hey Mama” and “Stronger” at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008.



Kanye West

The size 12 shoes were acquired by RARES, a sneaker investing platform that will allow users to “own a piece of the world’s most valuable shoe” by selling shares of the sneakers on June 16.

“Our goal in purchasing such an iconic shoe–and a piece of history–is to increase accessibility and empower the communities that birthed sneaker culture with the tools to gain financial freedom through RARES,” Gerome Sapp, RARES founder and CEO, said in a statement.

West ended his collaboration with Nike in 2013 before taking the brand to adidas. His Yeezy empire brought in an estimated $1.7 billion in sales in 2020, according to Forbes.





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Jay-Z Talks Legacy, Family & DMX In Rare Interview With ‘The Sunday Times’ | The Latest Hip-Hop News, Music and Media


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Celebrity Sightings in New York City - September 18, 2020

Source: Robert Kamau / Getty

Jay-Z remains the top dog when it comes to Hip-Hop culture and though he’s not ruling the summers with music as he once did in the late ’90s and early ’00s, the man is a living icon who’s earned all the respect in the world.

Recently, Hip-Hop’s first billionaire gave a rare interview to United Kingdon publication The Sunday Times where he opened up about a bevy of subjects including the power of social media, how he wants to be remembered, and those rumors about him and Bey paying $10 million for DMX’s masters to give to X’s 17 children.

“No one has bought Earl’s masters,” Jay finally stated. “Additionally, we are not selling any merch or raising money for Earl’s funeral. If anyone is requesting for money for his funeral please be aware the person is a scammer. We will keep the public posted on funeral/memorial service arrangements.”

Damn! We were lowkey hoping the rumor was true as it would’ve been an incredible gesture to X and his many children. Things like this really make you wonder where the rumor begin and who started them. Probably one of those folks Swizz Beatz was talking about during the memorial service.

Like the rest of the world, Jay found himself holed up during the pandemic with his family and while many became frustrated, angry, and tired with the new normal, Hov found a lesson in our new world.

“If anything came from this, it’s that we have to recognize that we’re all connected. It’s a metaphor for how connected we are,” Jay-Z said.

If only more people would realize that, things would be much better off. But nah, Society seems as divided as ever with things as simple as putting on masks having become politicized thanks to you know who.

Reflecting on his illustrious career and how successful he’s been since coming into the rap game in the ’90s, Jay knows he’s become a household name and hopes to be remembered fondly when it’s all said and done.

“I’m not beyond ego, right? Hopefully, they speak of me [with] the names of Bob Marley and all the greats. But that’s not for me to say,” Jay added.

Real talk, Jay’s already revered as a music icon whose legend will only grow as the years pass us by. Tackling social-political issues and helping those in need where he can only further propel him into deity territory. The man might-could one day find himself calling the shots from the Oval Office. We mean, if Trump could do it…

Read the rest of the interview HERE, and let us know your thoughts on Jay’s rare one-on-one in the comments section below.

Photo: Getty



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Kanye West Raises $1 Million for DMX’s Family with Balenciaga T-Shirt



Kanye West is giving back to DMX’s family in a big way.

The Yeezy founder collaborated with Balenciaga to create a T-shirt in honor of the late rap icon, with net proceeds benefitting X’s family. The long-sleeve shirt features portrait of X on the front with his signature logo and “R.I.P” written above. His birth date (12.18.1970) is featured on the right leave and date of death on the left (04.09.21). “In Loving Memory” is printed on the back of the black shirt.

The tribute tee went on sale Saturday for $200, the same day as DMX’s memorial service at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. According to TMZ, the shirt raised a staggering $1 million and sold out within 24 hours.

Additionally, Kanye was heavily involved in X’s memorial. He helped design the stage along with renowned visual artist Akeem Smith, while his Sunday Service Choir performed while gathered around X’s coffin. Kanye kept a low profile at the ceremony, wearing a red hoodie and mask that covered his entire face.

DMX’s family and friends including his Ruff Ryders crew members Eve, Jadakiss, Styles P, Drag-On, and Swizz Beatz paid tribute to X during Saturday’s livestreamed service at Barclays, where Swizz Beatz also acknowledged Kanye’s contributions. “Thank you my brother Kanye for this amazing setup,” he said.

The following day, BET aired live coverage of DMX’s homegoing celebration, which featured touching tributes from X’s ex-wife Tashera Simmons and fiancée Desiree Lindstrom. Swizz, Lil’ Kim, and Alicia Keys were also in attendance.

In the wake of DMX’s passing, the New York State Senate has declared Dec. 18, X’s birthday, as Earl “DMX” Simmons Day. “In New York, we have our own hip-hop royalty,” said Senator Jamal Bailey. “He’s the Earl of Westchester County. He is DMX, he is one of the greatest hip-hop artists that we will ever know. Phenomenal actor, phenomenal for the culture. Someone who gave us so much in the hip-hop generation.”



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Moneybagg Yo ‘A Gangsta’s Pain’ First Week Sales Projections



Moneybagg Yo released his latest album A Gangsta’s Pain this past Friday featuring the hit single ‘Time Today’.

Aside from Future on the latest single ‘Hard for The Next‘, the project also features guest appearances from Pharrell, Kaash Paige, Lil Durk and Jhene Aiko across its 22 tracks.

Today, we have the first week sales projections for the Memphis rapper. A Gangsta’s Pain is expected to move about 100k copies in the first week which will vault it to a number 1 debut on the Billboard 200 chart this week. About 2-3k out of that is projected to come from pure sales, reports HDD.

This will mark the Interscope rapper’s first number 1 on the chart. It will also become the highest opening week of his career so far.





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Kehlani Officially Comes Out as Lesbian



Kehlani is saying it loud and proud.

After revealing that she is gay earlier in the month, the singer is making it official. In a now-deleted video, posted Thursday (April 22) on TikTok, Kehlani addressed the speculation surrounding her sexuality.

“I’m just gonna fu**ing say it, because everybody keeps bringing it up to me,” she said before addressing her original announcement on her friend’s Instagram Live on Easter Sunday.

“It’s only like fu**ing 30 people on the live and they’re like, Kehlani, ‘What’s new?’ And I’m like, ‘I finally know I’m a lesbian,’” she continued. “Well, it’s fu**ing true. I am gay, g-gay, gay, gay.”

Kehlani, who turns 26 today, said that when she wanted to have “heart-to-hearts” with her family and friends, they were already aware of her sexuality.

“I’m like, ‘Guys, I finally know that I’m gay—like, I’m gay gay,’ and they’re like, ‘We know. Duh, stupid. Duh,’” she joked. “I feel like, ‘No. I want you to fall on the floor and be like, ‘Congratulations! We had no idea!’ Everyone’s just like, ‘Duh. You’re the only one who didn’t fu**ing know. The fu**ing closet was glass.’”

Added Kehlani, “So I guess I just wanted y’all to know that everyone knew but me.”

The “Nights Like This” singer, who gave birth to her daughter Adeya in 2018, recently graced the cover of The Advocate where she opened up about her sexuality and how she is viewed by others.

“I didn’t even really have to come out in my private life,” she said. “I don’t walk down the street and people look at me and go, ‘Oh, I bet she’s queer’ or ‘I bet that she’s into women’ or anything like that because of the way I present.”

Kehlani is gearing up for her virtual concert, “It Was Live Until It Wasn’t,” where she will perform her latest album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, live for the first time. The show will stream May 10 at 5 p.m. PT on NoCap.



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Irv Gotti Claims DMX Overdosed on Crack Mixed with Fentanyl, Was Diagnosed with Covid



In a new interview, Irv Gotti claims that DMX died from an overdose of “bad dose of crack” mixed with Fentanyl .

The Murder Inc boss spoke about DMX’s death in a chat with 107.5 WGCI in Chicago where he made the revelation. Citing information received from X’s family, Gotti said, “they said it was a bad dose of crack and they said some drug Fentanyl was mixed with the crack and that’s what made him overdose.”

He also added that X was diagnosed with Covid-19 once he reached the hospital, although an earlier source said he did not have the virus. “When when he got to the hospital, he got diagnosed with COVID and he couldn’t breathe. You know that COVID messes with your respiratory system, so that’s why he had to get hooked up to the ventilator. But they said before he did, he was brain died.’”

No family member or rep has so far talked about the cause of death except for the fact that he had heart failure. “We are deeply saddened to announce today that our loved one, DMX, birth name of Earl Simmons, passed away at 50-years-old at White Plains Hospital with his family by his side after being placed on life support for the past few days,” read the official statement at the time of his death.

Close friends and family will remember the legendary rapper at a private ceremony at the Barclays Center, New York at 4 pm today (Saturday). The ceremony will be livestreamed on DMX’s YouTube channel.





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Drake and Chris Brown Reunite in Hollywood



Drake and Chris Brown are reunited and it feels so good.

The “No Guidance” collaborators were spotted in Hollywood on Wednesday night (April 21). Drizzy and Breezy stepped out to the Highlight Room to celebrate Terrence J’s birthday alongside famous friends including Quavo, Offset, Gunna, KYLE, and NAV.

Both posted the same photo on their Instagram accounts. Chris struck a serious pose in a black jacket with a hoodie over his head, while Drake cracked a smile. “LOVE LIFE AND ALWAYS BE SOLID,” Chris wrote in his caption, while the Certified Lover Boy captioned his post with the palm tree emoji.


The photo sparked a frenzy from fans, who were hopeful for a full project from the dynamic duo. “Drake and Chris on a 7-10 song album would be smoothie! Chris work so fast in the studio y’all can knock that out in under 2weeks,” commented one user, while another added, “Chris brown x drake album would have the summer on fire.”

The two, who squashed their beef onstage in 2018, have a history of collaborations including “Deuces (Remix)’ and “No Guidance.” Last year, they linked up on Drake’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes track “No You Too.”

On Friday, Chris and H.E.R. dropped their “song of the summer,” “Come Through.” Meanwhile, Champagne Papi can be heard alongside Young Thug and Gunna on “Solid” off Slime Language 2.





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Ashanti Addresses Dating Rumors After Being Spotted with Mystery Man



Ashanti

Ashanti is setting the record straight when it comes to her love life.

Earlier this week, there were rumors that the singer had a new boo after she posted a photo with an unidentified man during her recent trip to Cancun. The two were seen with their arms around each other while posing together in front of a rock wall.

“Great times,” Ashanti captioned the pic.

She also shared video celebrating with friends, and the mystery guy was once again seen alongside her. Ashanti’s name started trending as fans speculated that she had a new boyfriend.

However, there is no truth to the romance rumors. Ashanti later addressed the speculation, revealing that the man in the photo is a manager at Taboo, the restaurant she visited in Cancun.

“Lmaoooo NO! He’s one of the managers at the restaurant!!!” she commented on The Shade Room, adding, “He is NOT my man and we are NOT DATING.”

Ashanti was recently linked to Flo Rida after the pair was spotted vacationing together in Cancun. They shared photos from their Mexican getaway including one of them lounging on a yacht, but Ashanti has not addressed if the two are a couple.





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