World News
Robe Muhammad Ali wore to fight Joe Frazier in 1971 auctioned for up to $800,000
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The red robe that Boxing legend, Muhammad Ali entered the ring with, wrapped with white trim for his “Fight of the Century” with Joe Frazier on the evening of March 8, 1971, inside a celebrity-packed Madison Square Garden, is now up for auction.
After Ali’s loss in a 15-round decision, the robe disappeared from his wardrobe permanently but 51 years later, it’s now being put in a Heritage Auctions event featuring more than 1,600 Ali items from his early career as Cassius Clay through his metamorphosis into “The Greatest.”
The opening bid is exactly $100,000 but the fabric is expected to end up selling for at least £800,000.
Ali may have died in June 2016, but his legacy still clearly lives on to this day.
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“The robe is really iconic when you realize he lost the fight,” said collection owner Troy Kinunen, whose first buy was a vintage Ali fight poster in 1988 before amassing the unprecedented array of memorabilia available at the July 21-23 auction.
“Guys can get dejected,” he continued. “The robe represents the story of Ali’s comeback, his motivation to fight Frazier two more times and defeat George Foreman and regain the world championship.”
Other highlights of the collection assembled across 30 years include the signed mouthpiece Ali wore during that 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” victory over Foreman, an embroidered prayer cap gifted to the fighter before the “Thrilla in Manila” rematch with Frazier, and posters from all but one of Ali’s 61 professional fights.
The first Ali-Frazier match was so big that Frank Sinatra took his place as a ringside photographer and among the crowd of 20,455 were Miles Davis, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen and Diana Ross.
Ali, after the loss, suggested his choice of the red robe with his name in white lettering had something to do with his defeat and returned to his standard black and white outfit. The rare piece of ring attire was later autographed by Ali, who never wore it again.
“It’s the crown jewel of the collection,” said Kinunen. “It’s just very special.”
As are many of the lots from collection launched with Kinunen’s acquisition 34 years ago of a poster from Ali’s Nov. 14, 1966, fight with Cleveland Williams at the Astrodome.
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“I had a sense of who Muhammad Ali was,” said Kinunen, 52, who was just a kid during Ali’s heyday. “I started researching and reading biographies on him. I had some VHS tapes and became introduced to him. And the more I learned, the more fascinated I became with his story.”
Kinunan says he recalls snapping up whatever he could when a cache of Ali memorabilia was auctioned off, but now says it’s time for him to sell.
“I have so much respect for the man and his legacy, but I’m not the proper caretaker,” he said. “I’m really happy with discussing this. I love sharing this. Let the other fans have their chance.”
World News
‘Night at the Museum’ actor Bill Cobbs dies aged 90
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US actor Bill Cobbs, who appeared in Night At The Museum and The Bodyguard, has died aged 90. (more…)
World News
Kenyan President Ruto withdraws controversial finance bill following violent protests
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Kenya’s President William Ruto says he will withdraw a finance bill containing controversial tax hikes after deadly protests which saw parliament set ablaze on Tuesday. (more…)
World News
Social Trends: American rapper, Foolio Fatally Shot at 26th Birthday Celebration
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Florida rapper Julio Foolio, also known as Foolio, was shot and killed while celebrating his 26th birthday in Tampa.
RIP Julio Foolio
The rapper was killed while celebrating his birthday party in Tampa 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/wsA0UegylH
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) June 23, 2024
The incident occurred during a party, and details surrounding the shooting are still emerging.
🔥🚨BREAKING: Florida rapper Julio Foolio has been shot and killed at his birthday party. This rapper was notorious for going viral in 2021 after he made a song mocking all of the people who he didn’t like that were killed. pic.twitter.com/Tx6qUNh093
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) June 23, 2024
Foolio was known for his controversial song ‘When I See You,’ which discussed the death of his enemies on their birthdays.
His death has sparked discussions about violence in the rap community and the consequences of provocative lyrics.
Yungeen Ace Drop This Same Night Julio Foolio Died Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/AkM0ZwzeJh
— General (@pluggysteph_) June 23, 2024
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6LACK Returns With New Song “Fuck The Rap Game
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Today, the multi-platinum, four-time GRAMMY-nominated artist 6LACK returns with the release of his stirring new song “FTRG” (“Fuck The Rap Game”) via LVRN/Interscope Records. The track sees 6LACK in deep reflection as he honors his rap roots, revealing much about his own staggering personal and professional journey. A journey lined with the tumultuous ups and downs of the music industry that goes hand-in-hand with his own journey as a man in today’s world. It’s the result of a man vehemently working to be his best for his family, his friends, his peers, his community and himself, choosing to stay focused on his higher purpose that led him to find music. Directed by AboveGround, the video brings to life the many sentiments at play in this song: The flashiness and allure of the industry while 6LACK bares himself and remains authentically him.
“FTRG” follows the release of his beloved More Lonely Nights acoustic project that celebrated the one year anniversary of his Grammy-nominated album, Since I Have A Lover. It also arrives as 6LACK is in the middle of his striking No More Lonely Nights Tour that has introduced a series of intimate performances that capture the raw emotion that lines the collection of songs on Since I Have A Lover, delving into 6LACK’s personal journey with mental health, healing, personal growth, love and finding his way through it all — the good and the bad.
Since I Have A Lover has received large critical acclaim from the likes of NPR, Zane Lowe, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Business Insider, Complex, Fader and Pitchfork to name a few. It introduced a collection of profound songs speaking on mental health, recovery, self-improvement, love and revealed much about 6LACK’s personal journey navigating life’s highs and lows. It’s 6LACK like we’ve never seen or heard him before. The album features stunning collaborations with Don Toliver, Wale, India Shawn, Ty Dolla $ign, QUIN, and production by Leon Thomas, OZ, Fwdslxsh, Scribz Riley, EarthGang’s Olu, Teddy Walton and others.
ABOUT 6LACK:
Pronounced “Black”, the four-time GRAMMY-nominated and multi-platinum selling artist has brilliantly captured a voice of a generation through his dynamic art for years now. Born and raised in Zone 6 of Atlanta, 6LACK exploded onto the scene with his breakout debut FREE 6LACK album in 2016, cementing his insatiable, singular sound. He was later catapulted into stardom in 2018 with the arrival of his critically acclaimed album, East Atlanta Love Letter, which hit No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200.
The revered artist has amassed over 9.2 billion global streams across platforms while also giving the world some of the biggest hits from the past decade through explosive collaborations with some of today’s most beloved artists including J. Cole, Future, Selena Gomez, Young Thug, Timbaland, Normani, Isaiah Rashad, Rita Ora, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Baby, Khalid, Jessie Reyez, Nao and many more. Most recently, his colossal collaboration with Lil Tjay on the song “Calling My Phone” earned him a No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart and hit No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track has since reached platinum status and was brought to life through a moving performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
6LACK: NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS TOUR DATES:
Sat Jun 22 | Waukee, IA | Vibrant Music Hall
Thu Jun 27 | McKees Rocks, PA | Roxian Theatre
LISTEN TO THE SINCE I HAVE A LOVER LP HERE
LISTEN TO THE NO MORE LONELY NIGHTS EP HERE
6LACK Press Photos: https://umusic.box.com/s/
Follow 6LACK: INSTAGRAM I TWITTER I YOUTUBE I SOUNDCLOUD | FACEBOOK I WEBSITE
For more information visit www.6LACK.com
World News
Travis Scott arrested on disorderly intoxication, trespassing charges in Miami
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Rapper Travis Scott was arrested and booked into Miami-Dade County Jail early Thursday morning on charges of trespassing property after being given a warning and disorderly intoxication, county jail records show. (more…)
World News
Swizz Beatz & Timbaland Cement New Distribution Partnership Between Verzuz & X
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Making a monumental power move, VERZUZ—the online award-winning, multi-media platform launched by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland—has cemented an exclusive partnership with Xfor distribution. Swizz and Timbaland personally broke the news at an activation in Cannes, France today.
Earlier this year, Swizz and Timbaland reacquired VERZUZ from previous partner Triller, now owning 100% of the platform, while retaining their equity (along with the artists who participated in VERZUZ) in Triller. Upon resuming complete control, they sought out the perfect channel for independent distribution.
The partnership journey with X has now begun!
Together, the companies orchestrated a mutually beneficial alliance where Swizz and Timbaland maintain their full ownership and creative control, while X receives exclusive distribution rights. As a result, VERZUZ will now broadcast to an audience of over 550 million active users, exponentially expanding its viewership and international reach like never before. Since the inception of VERZUZ, the conversations around each VERZUZ naturally evolved on X from fans and enthusiasts alike. Viewers will now be able to watch for FREE exclusively on X, bringing the visual series, and viral conversation, all to one platform! Stay tuned for the announcement of the next VERZUZ matchup coming soon.
About this chapter, Swizz stated, “We are beyond thrilled to have found the best partner for Verzuz. Not only are we excited to have Verzuz on X, we’re excited to help X build the biggest entertainment company in the world. I would like to thank Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino, Brett Weitz, Mitchell Smith and the entire X team for believing in the Verzuz vision. We can’t wait to get to work.”
Timbaland added, “We are thrilled to partner with X, the most innovative platform globally. Our goal has always been to bring Verzuz to the world which we can now do bigger than ever.”
As they have since the first VERZUZ, the founders uplift the culture and community into the spotlight in the center of the world’s stage. However, they preserve the same grit, honor, authenticity, and integrity that makes hip-hop, rap, R&B, soul and ALL genres of music so special. They have the opportunity to magnify its resonance, thanks to Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, and the entire X team championing their unfiltered voices.
Linda Yaccarino stated, “X is so proud to partner with trailblazing creators, artists, and entrepreneurs Swizz Beatz & Timbaland. Our platform stands at the forefront of innovation, and Verzuz defines the essence of an innovative content experience. As we continue to work with the most exciting voices to bring premium content to X, there is no better fit than this series. Together we will redefine how consumers engage with their favorite entertainment, one Verzuz at a time.”
VERZUZ has partnered with Uncontained Media, led by Christian Sarabia, and Raymond Garcia. Together, they have produced multiple hit shows including Emmy Winner DRIVE WITH SWIZZ BEATZ and will serve as the production company and Executive Producers of VERZUZ.
The influence and impact of VERZUZ has proven to be undeniable. So far, it has produced over 40 episodes, generating 100 million-plus live views and over 70 billion impressions. It has naturally encompassed other verticals with VERZUZ SPORTS, and VERZUZ COMEDY, all which play well to some of the most highly engaged communities on X. Not to mention, the power of the #VERZUZEFFECT cannot be overstated. Every artist that has participated in a VERZUZ have seen dramatic increases in streaming, ticket sales, merchandise, and overall revenue from just one appearance.
Welcome to the biggest, boldest, and best era of VERZUZ. Welcome to the future of entertainment.
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