Dinwiddie, who previously attempted to tokenize his NBA contract but was told “no” by the league, posted a GoFundMe link on Friday stating that if fans reached his goal of $24,632,630, he would let them choose what franchise he signed with next.
The Brooklyn Nets guard is not a superstar, he is not even really a star, but a very high-level role player who could play a large role on a championship team. The niche he has carved out for himself in the league is commendable, as not many teams took a chance on him once Detroit essentially let him go and he spent some time in the G-League.
Yet his aspirations are high, and his desire to be the one player in the league to do something extremely innovative with his contract shows he is not like most athletes. But are his expectations for fans too high? The GoFundMe is not exactly on the proper trajectory for the lofty goal he set out for.
As of Sunday afternoon, Dinwiddie had raised less than $1,000 on the page, and the second-highest donation was for $69 from a Nets fan who included the message, “Knicks are Poopiepoopbuttbuttsoup.”
Ah, the crosstown rivalry between two teams. Basketball, we miss you.
Dinwiddie may have realized the error in his ways, based off of his tweet this morning.
Woke up this morning and saw we reached about 100 individual donors and a lil over $1k. We also had some fun with #NBATwitter lol
I’ll be donating the proceeds to @ReadWorks, a 501(c)3 organization that supports remote learning efforts for teachers and students during COVID-19. https://t.co/4YfWAIU0f3
The Nets guard won’t even be a free agent until 2022, although he does have a player option on the 2021/22 season where he is supposed to earn $12,302,496. Is he jumping the gun, wylin, or setting the standard for players who want to do something different with their contracts under the guise of additional freedom.
Almost certainly the former two.
However, any way you slice it, Dinwiddie is not like any other role player or close-to-All-Star in the league. And if he continues to play like he has been this year and last, the suitors will be aplenty in 2021/2022.
Soccer (football) returned this past weekend with a whole lot of star power.
The Bundesliga, Germany’s primary football competition, held eight games Saturday and Sunday, the first football matches in over two months in the country, and across all major soccer leagues in the world.
“Against all the odds, it’s match day 26,” the commentator for Dortmund vs. Schalke beamed as kickoff approached.
Dortmund was the biggest club facing off on Saturday and did not disappoint, winning 4-0 over their rivals Schalke in the Revierderby. 19-year-old Erling Håland opened the scoring, and the club did not look back.
Since moving over to Dortmund, Håland has shown why he was so highly touted across the world. This youngster has a knack for putting the ball in the net- a seemingly desirable trait for any striker- but one that is only intrinsically found in a select few.
Håland knows where to be to receive the ball in an optimal location; just look at his goal in this game as an example.
He has an unmistakable prowess in the air, a strength not commonly found in a player of his age, and a determination to win. Dortmund truly has a gem on its hands that it can build upon for years to come.
The biggest club in Germany, Bayern Munich, also played over the weekend on Sunday, winning its match against Union Berlin 2-0. Star striker, and former Dortmund player, Robert Lewandowski scored in his return to the pitch.
The weekend was a beautiful return to the biggest sport in the world, a team sport that requires contact between 22 players, chemistry between 11 teammates on the field alone.
There was brief controversy, as to be expected. In Hoffenheim’s showdown with Hertha Berlin, Vedad Ibisevic gave Berlin a 2-0 lead over his former team. Ibisevic and his teammates embraced, before separating as they presumably remembered the hygiene protocol set in place by the German Football League (DFL). Hertha Berlin will not be punished, but the celebrations by the team were the subject of controversy after the match.
“Soccer is a contact sport,” Hertha head coach Bruno Labbadia said.
“The teams have been tested six times. We are close to the opponents during every duel, every corner kick. We cannot prevent such things. It is a fine line we are walking.”
It is important for players, coaches, and fans alike to accept that things are different right now, while still acknowledging the innate fundamental qualities of soccer. Camaraderie, chemistry, unity.
Players will have to keep their distance when they can, even just for purposes of how it looks. But with Germany’s handling of the coronavirus, constant and reliable testing, everyone should understand when celebrating and extremely close contact occurs.
Is it the stereotypical uber-rationality of Germans that has allowed for the country to weather the storm of coronavirus? Is it the leadership from Merkel and proper delegation and listening to scientists? Most likely a combination, but for Europe’s richest and most populous country, it is clear what it is doing is working.
Only Bayern (25) and Dortmund (24) have collected more points in 2020 than Bayer Leverkusen (19) 🧮
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) May 18, 2020
Despite some minor hiccups, the weekend showed that the Bundesliga, and consequently Germany, is leading the charge in properly handling the coronavirus and the reinstatement of sports and businesses.
Strange hearing new sounds of the game without an uproarious crowd cheering? Yeah. A tad eerie seeing the visuals of players performing in an empty stadium? Absolutely.
But we must take what we can get, and beautiful football being returned to our lives is a sight for sore eyes. This was match week 26 of 34. We can’t wait to continue tuning in.
Dana White, President of the UFC, would not substantiate the numbers but expressed extreme satisfaction with how the event went.
He told Yahoo Sports, “We absolutely destroyed it. It was a home run by every measure. The early trends were good and they continued.”
Such a feat is impressive especially when considering there were no major headliners on the card for UFC 249. One could argue Tony Ferguson, but he got his a** whooped handily, and he’s no Khabib or Conor McGregor.
Justin Gaethje is the fighter who beat Ferguson in the interim lightweight championship.
UFC 249 was the first live sporting event in the U.S. since the coronavirus outbreak shut down the country’s economy in mid-March. Dana White was adamant about holding a card even amidst the countrywide shutdown, clearly seeing the economic opportunity in it, but also surely understanding sports fans were starving for some content.
UFC 249 had no fans in the building, and all people present had to be tested for coronavirus before being allowed in. Still, slightly jarring and all, a deadly and transmissible virus that most of us have not seen during our lifetimes changes the rules, and we must evolve with the times.
No fans present may be eerie at first; the echoing of the competitor’s words, the natural sounds blasting into mics that would otherwise be waterlogged with fans cheers and oohs and ahs.
But it is ultimately the same sport being played, the same outcome of joyous and uproarious fans cheering and screaming, just at home instead of there in the building.
Hopefully, the UFC’s restarting is a beacon of hope for other sports. Germany’s Bundesliga is resuming this Saturday, and as the top league in the country, has some exceptional talents and teams gearing up to resume.
Soccer, a team sport with 22 players on the field at almost all times, is much harder to organize around the coronavirus than a one-on-one matchup like the UFC, but Germany must feel confident in its approach.
The extreme prosperity the UFC saw this past weekend does not just serve as a model for resuming sports in the world of COVID-19. It could serve as a model for future sports endeavors regardless of global conflict.
The pay-per-view system is extremely lucrative, and its success is largely predicated upon the popularity of its stars.
That is why numbers have been so high when Conor McGregor is winning, when Ronda Rousey was kicking ass, now even when Khabib is set to fight.
But this past weekend’s revelation may be about more than the coronavirus. The UFC is willing to shine its lights and host an epic night of competition and content even when no one else will.
Fans like that, they respect that, and even without a bonafide superstar on the card, it would not be at all surprising if the UFC continues to see its numbers rise.
Safety comes before all else, and there are certain guidelines that leagues across the U.S. and the world must adhere to. For some sports, it is exponentially more difficult than others, especially when taking into consideration travel plans.
But everyone right now is pivoting, at work, at home, in how all business and other affairs are handled. The UFC did it; what say you, other sports leagues?
Can we get all 30 NBA teams to be safely quarantined and tested in Vegas or Orlando, and all play in one or two arenas? It doesn’t seem altogether improbable. The UFC is perhaps the fastest-growing sports league in the world, and the main reasons for this are innovation, dedication to crafting an exciting product, and smart marketing.
Its most recent success is possibly its greatest accomplishment yet; a massively successful and exciting night of action with no discernible starfighters to average fans. Sports fans are starving for content.
Will sports leagues follow the UFC’s trailblazing path or slowly watch months and years of promise and prosperity wither away? The sports landscape is in a fascinating area right now. And oh the times they are a-changing. UFC Fight Night continues tonight on ESPN+.
Is Mike Tyson returning to boxing? Well, he is back and he is swinging.
And he doesn’t mith.
The previous undisputed world heavyweight champion and youngest-ever boxer to win a heavyweight title recently released a video of him back training. His words uttered at the end?
Tyson looks incredibly fit and agile, strong, and forceful. It’s not surprising that he’s kept with him the strength and the power that he can throw in a punch. But what is surprising is how agile he still is, how quick his feet and hands move, how crafty his moves are with gloves on.
Tyson, one of the most enigmatic and polarizing athletes of all time, has taken a step away from boxing in recent years. His podcast, “Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson” has occupied some of his time, as well as many personal ventures such as appearing on talk shows that have sparked headlines.
In the aforementioned “Hotboxin’,” Tyson and his co-hosts revealed that they smoke 10 tons of weed at Tyson ranch a month.
“Anything’s possible. I feel unstoppable now. The gods of war have reawakened me, ignited my ego and want me to go to war again. I feel like I’m [young] again,” Tyson continued.
One of the most feared fighters of all time, Tyson won 44 of his 50 victories by knockout, and in 1990, five years into his career, was undefeated.
Iron Mike has not fought a professional fight since he lost to Kevin McBride in 2005. Polarizing as they come, if Tyson stepped into the ring again, love him or hate him, people would tune in en masse.
Tyson’s quickness in the training videos he released is almost too amazing to believe. But for a man that has been labeled as crazy and insane before, what else can we expect other than the unexpected?
Whatever these videos mean for the sports world, for boxing, for entertainment, is not to be stressed. Watching Tyson go in with gloves on is a much-needed sight for sore eyes. If he happens to step into the ring again, possibly fighting Holyfield or another boxer, we will all tune in.
But even if not, Iron Mike has still got it. And I wouldn’t want to be facing him in the ring.
It is the middle of May and we’re, now, months into the destruction and disturbance of the global pandemic that is COVID-19.
All walks of life have been affected by the novel coronavirus, as comprehensively covered on the news, radio, and in general discourse. But it is “the underreported” that deserve some shine and notability.
Just because someone else’s issues are more severe, that doesn’t make yours any less real. As a great anonymous person once said, “Don’t say ‘don’t be sad, some people have it worse.’ That’s like saying ‘Don’t be happy, some people have it better.'”
I digress to point out that student-athletes are a niche group that has been completely thrown into a whirlwind of change. A deluxe month+ of excitement awaited them, just to be snatched out from right in front of their faces in the time it takes Mike Tyson to throw a combo even at 53 years old.
And to make matters worse, student-athletes are constantly told to keep their eyes on the bigger picture.
It is true, the most important thing right now is life and death, but livelihood, experiences, and memories are all essential aspects of living too.
Student-athletes at the end of their Winter season, and those just gearing up for Spring season, have had enjoyment and possibility snatched from them. For some, the NCAA tournaments were a chance to showcase their abilities and hopefully move on to the next step, the professional level.
We wanted to give them some shine and analyze how the absence of their sports, often their entire livelihoods, has affected them.
Student-athletes understand the bigger picture and implications of health and safety right now. But that hardly numbs the pain of what they worked so consistently hard for being taken away.
Sabrina Ionescu, the best player in women’s college basketball, was picked number one in the WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty (shketit). Still, she was not able to do her thing in the NCAA tournament and get the opportunity to give Oregon its first women’s NCAA tournament win in program history.
Watching her on the hardwood one last time in white and green would’ve been so special.
Obi Toppin is another superstar college basketball player, expected to go high in the NBA Draft, but unable to give his school Dayton a chance to win the NCAA tournament.
Of course, the thrust into the world of professional sports is desired. And in some cases, it is all student-athletes have been dreaming of their entire lives. But one last shot at a college trophy, one last shot to leave everything on the floor with your brothers/sisters is something that cannot be measured. And that is a moment these student-athletes (especially seniors) unfortunately have to live without.
Still, the resilience shown by student-athletes is commendable. They’re not complaining, they’re working. And in some cases, helping the efforts immensely to combat the coronavirus.
Student-athletes are already unappreciated in the financial sector. Now their livelihoods have been uprooted, and in many cases, taken away is their chance to show they are built for the next level.
For MLB Draft prospects, the near-assurance that they would be moving onto the next level is suddenly not so sure. Instead of the 40 rounds for athletes to be chosen, this year there will only be five.
This literally means that over 1,000 kids who thought they would get drafted now won’t. A thousand. https://t.co/FP958Rmc1U
Forbes said in an article that the cancellation of the Men’s Division 1 basketball tournament in March cost the NCAA around $375 million. The college football world could be significantly affected too if the virus is not largely mitigated by the fall.
Could the suspension of the 2020/2021 season for major sports spell the end for the already-reeling NCAA?
And for families that are struggling financially, such as the Montgomery family, a college scholarship would have meant the world. Now, colleges face the fact that they will not have as much money to dole out for scholarships, and senior high schoolers face the brunt of this uncomfortable truth.
But college-athletes’ stories are not forgotten, their chance at redemption is not past salvation.
The tide is changing, though, for student-athletes, and if the NCAA is not smart, the organization will become obsolete in several years once the NBA and other professional leagues find a smoother transition for their athletes.
Right now, like student-athletes, all we can do is wait and see what happens.
Episodes five and six aired last Sunday, and we are now past the halfway point of ‘The Last Dance,’ a documentary that will surely go down in history as iconic and a model for how to manage many intersecting narratives at once.
ESPN, Jason Hehir, you have done it again. Bravo.
As per our last two pieces covering the brilliant doc following Michael Jordan and the 90s Bulls’ excellence, we took a dive down the biggest storylines in the two middle episodes of the series.
It is well found the relationship between the late great Kobe Bean Bryant and His Airness, Michael Jordan. They were protege and mentor, student and teacher, little brother and big brother. These episodes delved deep into the foundational state of their relationship in ’98. At the All-Star game, suiting up to go East vs. West, Michael says to his teammates,
“That little Laker boy’s gonna take everybody one on one. He don’t let the game come to him. He just go out there and take it.”
Many people wanted Michael to mentor them. And many young players got the chance. But it was Kobe‘s determination, his willingness to take all the necessary steps to be great “like Mike,” that set up his route to prosperity and forged their relationship.
This old footage was bittersweet to see; Kobe truly was beloved by millions.
We miss you Kobe.
Nike Brand
Jordan was an Adidas guy in the early ’80s. Nike then, believes it or not, was a bit of an upstart company, and Converse was the official shoe of the NBA.
Converse had Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Julius Erving, and more. Converse told Jordan they couldn’t give him a platform bigger than any of these guys, and Adidas wouldn’t give Mike his own shoe.
Talk about fumbling the bag.
Jordan’s agent, David Falk, said that he could hardly get Jordan on the plane to meet with Nike, but after Jordan’s mom got on the phone with her son, he agreed to hear them out.
There born was perhaps the greatest partnership in fashion history. Jordan got around $250,000, more than double what any other superstar was getting, and his signature “Air Jordan” shoe, which all was a lot for a rookie who hadn’t proven anything yet.
And Nike, well, Nike got the biggest return on investment imaginable. Here we are, 35 or so years later, and Nike is a titan.
Jordan’s gambling
Episode six cast major aspersions on Jordan and his gambling problem. Mostly it was the media at that time, “trying” to drag down the biggest star in the world right as he was reaching his pinnacle.
After a couple of chips, talk switched from Mike being universally beloved, to him being questioned incessantly.
📺@ColinCowherd: "We're seeing that Michael Jordan is NOT perfect, he's REAL. He can be vindictive, petty, and sometimes really mean, but he's REAL. And I'll take that every day of the week instead of the social media posturing I see from everybody else." pic.twitter.com/I5ZHxPsOFt
Does he have a gambling problem? Are his finances in order? Does he treat his teammates horribly?
It took a noticeable toll on Jordan until one night before a game, he sat down with Ahmad Rashad and addressed the allegations.
“I can stop gambling. I have a competition problem, a competitive problem,” said Jordan.
Being such a fierce competitor is what made Mike the GOAT. It is also why he loved golf so much, why he took a shot at baseball, why he returned from retirement to the NBA twice.
Episodes five and six were absolute heat, and the next two are supposed to be even better. Director Jason Hehir recently said that he was surprised Jordan gave the green light, that’s how bad it makes him look.
The Twitter takeover included brilliant auteurs such as Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water), Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman), Jon Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), Julie Dash (Daughter of the Dust), and Matthew Cherry (Hair Love), just to name a few.
It was a day of advice shared, motivation given, reflection prompted. It was a day for fans to ask their favorite filmmakers questions.
It served as an opportunity for filmmakers to talk amongst each other, share their love and respect for their contemporaries, and ask questions in a forum available to everyone.
We wanted to take a deep dive into the tweet-a-thon dedicated to the hashtag #ArrayNow, because this immaculate advice and sharing of experiences cannot slip through the cracks.
All aspiring filmmakers and creatives should heed advice and inspiration from these tweets. To help out, we took a look at several themes throughout the tweet-a-thon.
It is natural for aspirational creatives to start to feel impatient at a certain point. Especially, when their process has not yielded a significant amount of direction and freedom. But be patient fam, your big break often comes at a time when you are least expecting it.
The blunt truth is that the majority of people (even the most talented, successful, and prestigious) started on the ground floor and worked their way up. Yes! On the way up, there were hiccups and doubts, minor setbacks. but all of those moments served as inspiration for major comebacks.
Be patient, and enjoy the process. This is sometimes when you learn the foundation that will carry you to your greatest heights.
Patty Jenkins, award-winning director of Monster and Wonder Woman, shared some advice for aspiring filmmakers.
Theo, my friend! I was a camera person for 9 years. At the time I was frustrated I wasn't directing, but I am SO grateful for the training and grounding it gave me now. Be patient with yourselves everyone! You want to make great things. Not fast things. It takes time. #ARRAYNowhttps://t.co/bs42sRwY0Z
Lulu Wang writer and director of the acclaimed The Farewell shared similar advice.
Try to enjoy the hustle! It's terrible while you're in it, but romantic in retrospect… Find a side hustle that gives you time to write. If you want to direct, don't get a job that's too adjacent to what you want to do thinking it'll lead you there… (1/2) #ARRAYNowhttps://t.co/3WBZ1AEdAj
Don't give up, that's the most important thing. Make sure you're considering what role you want to play, figure out where your talents/tastes lead you. Make sure you're aiming at the right target FOR YOU. Reach out to folks who know more. But don't give up, if you want it! https://t.co/kuSmATrF8F
It may seem tedious and boring now, but years down the line when the foundational blueprint is created, you may see it as “romantic in retrospect.”
Representation is crucial.
For women and people of color in general, there are fewer progressive opportunities in the film industry (arguably all industries) compared to white males.
Ava DuVernay, a tireless advocate for justice, invited a diverse group of individuals to speak for #ArrayNow. Many of them had stories and advice for maneuvering in a world where the playing field is not set fairly.
We need to bring in women, and people of all kinds, much earlier to the process. We need to do more than just hire them, though that's important. We need to help them to tell THEIR stories, their way. The world is craving more points of view on the big screen. #ARRAYNowhttps://t.co/HmfJd5EA1I
As Jenkins said, it is not enough to just hire a diverse crew and lead of a project. “We” need to bring in women, and other marginalized groups and delicately listen to their story, the way they want it to be told.
Women and people of color are not props to advance an agenda of perceived inclusiveness. Their stories deserve to be heard in the way that only they can tell it.
Still, a collaboration on #ArrayNow of such a wide range of individuals shows that there is a diverse group of people in the film industry working to promote equal opportunity.
As Wang says, it is also important to work and make strides within the world you create in. Pushing for more representation does not disable one from creating their story.
If anything, the project can be a beacon of hope that underrepresented individuals can use to advance the mission of equal opportunity and representation.
Be confident in your process.
In any industry, it can be extremely nerve-wracking to head a project and dole out responsibility and tasks to a wide range of individuals.
Now in film, picture doing all that but giving instruction to some of the most prolific and accomplished stars in the world.
Fear is temporary and meant to serve as the impetus for something greater. These filmmakers speaking during the tweet-a-thon shared what it’s like to be in charge of a project, and how creating a project in your image means you must be confident in your process.
Cathy Yan, director of Birds of Prey, was just one filmmaker who shared some thoughts.
Hello! To kick this off, one mistake I made while making a film is not wanting to impose (my thoughts, expectations and process) on my cast or crew. But you have to own it as a director and be confident in yourself as the axis of all decisions and a leader in every way #arraynow
To get us started… One mistake I made while making a film was caring too much about what people thought. From that I learned, it's one thing to hear people out and graciously take feedback. It's another to want to please. Don't do the latter. #ARRAYNow
I ask them to break the scene – in other words, to "do it BADLY." Give me all your bad acting, the worst version of the scene, all of the things they're afraid of: cheesy, melodramatic, etc. Sometimes, doing the thing you're most afraid of sets you free. #ARRAYNowhttps://t.co/6NvgRNtIdy
Enjoy the process, be mindful of representation and fairness, and take direction. As a filmmaker, the onus is on you to create something special.
Ava DuVernay’s Array film collective launched an amazing day of advice, reflection, and introspection from some of the top filmmakers in the world. We are gracious to see that these talented individuals are still creating, still staying positive and interactive in trying times.
We will leave you with Julie Dash’s beautiful tweet celebrating film and “a continuum of cinematic majesty.”
I remember that Sundance screening and I remember that I had to stand up for you…because you were my hero and I wanted everyone there to know that. We are all a part of a continuum of cinematic majesty… #ARRAYNowhttps://t.co/I8BUzsYUTF
“I thank God they paired me with her, cause it brought out the best for the both of us,” said Ramii, producer and Cleveland native who just won Red Bull’s The Cut.
His partner on the show? Singer/songwriter and Oakland native Desta Dawn.
“I completely agree. I’m really grateful that I was paired with Ramii…”
The originality behind The Cut comes from its pairing of two total strangers together, one producer and one singer/songwriter. Together, they have just ten hours to come up with a track. Once finished, alongside host and hit-making producer OG Parker, the contestants vote on whose track they thought was best.
Photo Cred: Maria Jose Govea/Red Bull Content Pool | From left to right: Desta Dawn, OG Parker, Ramii
Desta and Ramii emerged victorious, as two talented artists that perfectly accentuated each other’s styles and challenged each other to make the best songs possible. Simply put, they were a perfect combination.
Still, neither Ramii and Desta were planning on appearing on TV, especially a competition show. They were home chilling, working on their craft when, eventually, the opportunity presented itself.
At first, when Ramii kept getting emails about the show, he thought it was spam. It was ignore, ignore… until Ramii would get a phone call, breaking down the show and what would be needed from him.
“And I’m like ‘yeah I ain’t doing no TV show, like, I’m good,’” said Ramii bluntly.
But he submitted and sent in a video of himself to the show’s producers. They quickly admitted him onto the show. “And again I was like ‘Nah, I’m good, I’m not doing it. I’m not tryna be on TV for music.’”
He would go on to tell his friends about it and they encouraged him to accept the opportunity.
“I had this studio store in West Hollywood and I was really making music for like 10-12 hours a day for like two years straight. I never went this hard in my life.” Ramii was working hard to perfect his craft, he was gearing up to create something special.
He didn’t expect to get an opportunity to go on TV. “I was just like ‘if imma do this competition, I gotta win it… I’m glad I did it though, it was a great time, great experience.”
For Desta, she ended up on The Cut because of a relationship she was in at the time.
One night, she was at the dinner table, and the guy she was with let her know that he got an email and saw a link that Red Bull was looking for new artists. Artists, specifically in R&B, and so he sent them her Soundcloud. “I hope that’s cool,” he said.
Desta did not think much of it, nonchalantly responding “okay,” before moving on to the next topic of discussion. Then, she got an email, asking for more music, for a video of herself.
“I was asking homeboy ‘What is this for?’ And he was like ‘I don’t know.’”
The day after her birthday, Desta got a call. The call was from Red Bull, saying they wanted her on the show.
At first, she celebrated. Then, she took a second to think, “wait, what am I gonna be on?”
“So I agreed to it halfway, not even fully knowing what it was.” Both Ramii and Desta stumbled upon The Cut, and it turned out to be a more glorious experience than either of them could have expected.
As Ramii put it, “It was one of the best times of my life.”
Before The Cut
Desta grew up in Oakland in an Ethiopian household and coming up, some of the first music she’d hear would be just that, Ethiopian. It was her older sisters that put her on to R&B, Neo-soul, and the more American genres she listens to now.
“Singing, I just have always been doing it. My parents constantly tell me they have videos of me singing in my crib, before I could talk, but just humming something,” Desta told me.
As far as Oakland’s influence, it’s too simple to boil down to just a metaphorical reference in her music. In some way or another, it affects everything about her.
“People from the Bay Area, specifically Oakland, we have so many different kinds of personalities. But anywhere we go, you can tell we have something different about us.”
Ramii similarly was immersed in his culture through music; in this case, Arabic tracks. But Ramii, a younger sibling like Desta, learned of the early 90s hip hop sounds from his older brothers. There was Tupac, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dog, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, his favorite.
“I like how different it was, how melodic it was. And they’re from Cleveland, my hometown, so I resonated with it the most.”
The melodic tones and chord-driven tracks within rap and hip-hop let Ramii know these genres didn’t have to exclude a hot tune in the background. One could sing or rap hard lyrics over the top of a songful melody.
“I just make whatever feels good to me.”
Ramii and Desta’s Collaboration
“At first I was like ‘they paired me with an R&B singer, I guess I gotta make some R&B music,’” said Ramii amidst Desta’s evocative chuckles.
“And I hadn’t made R&B in a long time. I was making a lot of rap music; I was like ‘why would they pair me with an R&B singer?’ That’s what I was thinking to myself.”
Photo Cred: Maria Jose Govea/Red Bull Content Pool
But once Ramii started working with Desta, discussing avenues to go down, getting to know her, listening to their work’s early stages, he realized he excelled in R&B.
“If I would have worked on a rap song, it probably wouldn’t have brought out the musicality I can bring to the table,” said Ramii.
“I was super happy that Ramii was open to doing a genre that I’m very comfortable singing in, and also, he’s so much more than just a beat-maker. Even though I wrote the song, he helped me arrange it, and he would be so honest with me if I sang something off-key,” added Desta.
The work of a producer, Desta noted, was nearly all-encompassing. A role that Ramii understands well.
“Producing a song isn’t just making a beat. It’s helping the artist find the vocals, find what the best takes are. It kinda brought out all the skills that I have. So, I was really happy to work with her,” said Ramii.
Ramii and Desta both noted how all of the pairings on the show were well done; everyone’s vibe matched the other’s. This led to an inspiring work environment and ultimately some exceptional completed tracks.
Make You Mine
On Desta and Ramii’s first track, they channeled energy inspired by female empowerment. As Desta said, she didn’t just want to write another love song.
“I just felt like there was not enough focus on women being content with themselves first,” said Desta, and that was the impetus for the first song.
For the second, and final, song, Desta dove into the songwriting with a different thought in mind.
“For R&B dudes, it’s always the guy going after the girl, and it was so okay for dudes to be so sexual with their lyrics, to say what they want. And you never really saw it with women artists.”
She expressed how women should feel the freedom to approach a guy if they feel so inclined, to offer a man a drink without the stigma that they are being too aggressive or are shunning the role of “play hard to get.”
“If you’re hella confident within yourself, and if you don’t have expectations of it, then there’s no harm in approaching a guy and buying him a drink first,” said Desta.
“Ooh, I like that,” Ramii quickly quipped. The quick-witted response was accompanied by deep chuckles from Desta. And over the phone, it was easy to hear how the two got along so well.
“You feel me?? I wanted it to be fun and feel sexy and have people listening to it like ‘yeah I can do that.’”
Ramii thought it was important as a producer to still bring his own vibe, but also largely cater to what the artist needs. They’re the one who’s going to perform. They’re the one who really has to draw an emotional connection with the material.
Plans moving forward
Desta and Ramii are both in quarantine, working with Red Bull Music and by themselves to push out their next project. Ramii just released “Midnight Children” and is working on a larger “uplifting and inspirational” project. On advice he’d give to aspiring producers?
“Love is what drives your creativity, and your inspiration, and your passion. I think when you love something enough, great things come from it,” said Rami. “Keep falling in love with music.”
Desta plans to release a project towards the end of this year.
“Creating music, you have to be in love with it. Whenever I feel like I’m forcing myself, if I’m not fully into it, then it’s not organic and it’s not good. I never want to create in a space where money’s on my mind,” said Desta.
“I never want to create where it’s not coming from a real place.”
Going into The Cut with no real expectations allowed Desta and Ramii to have an incredible experience that they will carry with them forever. Their unique partnership yielded beautiful sounds and eye-opening epiphanies of all the things they can do, and do together.
“I was telling Desta like ‘you know we’re gonna win this right?’ like from the jump,” said Ramii. Desta would respond “Ramii stop saying that, stop saying that.”
“I didn’t say that on some arrogant stuff either, it was just confidence.”
Tune in here to check out the music from the rest of the artists who were in the singer-songwriter competition.
Michael Jordan is not just seen by the majority of sports fans as the greatest basketball player of all time.
He is seen as the greatest winner of all time, in any sport and possibly, in any walk of life. Jordan’s legacy is like that of an enigmatic shadow. A far-off pinnacle of achievement, so far away that when you get close enough, it almost doesn’t feel real.
But through ‘The Last Dance,’ we are all privy to new and detailed information surrounding His Airness’ career and the 90s Chicago Bulls.
Jordan is very close to non-human, but this doc shows us he still bleeds very much like us, he has gone through trials and tribulations like us; he had to overcome immense adversity to get to the top.
As a freshman at UNC, Jordan quickly established himself as a key player on the team. In fact, it was his shot that was the game-winner in the 1982 NCAA Championship.
But Jordan still, two years later entering the NBA draft, wasn’t expected to be one of the greatest players ever. First, in the late ’80s and early ’90s, he had to get through the gritty Detroit Pistons.
“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed,”-MJ.
After losing to them three straight years in the playoffs, Jordan and the entire Bulls team hit the gym. They wanted to bulk up so the Pistons’ physical presence didn’t keep winning them the series. So Jordan led the charge, and in ’91, the Bulls first championship, they swept the Pistons out of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jordan is renowned for his tireless dedication to winning, his consistent work ethic, and motivation to get better. But, even as a hardened competitor, he still found time to mentor the younger stars in the NBA in his later years.
Two of those stars, and likely the most prolific, are Shaquille O’Neal and the late great Kobe Bryant.
Since retiring, MJ has still surrounded himself with the game of basketball, most clearly as the owner of the Charlotte Hornets. Every time Jordan speaks, people listen, and there are always quotes that serve as inspiration and motivation for people looking to achieve greatness in their respective industries.
“The ceiling is the roof,” is one of MJ’s most recent famous quotes.
It is hard to think of Jordan now without thinking of his relationship with Kobe Bryant. Mentor to protege, vet to rook, big brother to little brother.
“When Kobe Bryant died, a piece of me died,” tearfully declared MJ at Kobe’s memorial service.
MJ continues to inspire us with his savvy basketball mind, his willingness to be great, and his motivational and largesse words about life. Rest In Peace Kobe Bryant and long live MJ.
The Twitter takeover will take place at 9 am PST, and feature auteurs such as Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water), Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman), Jon Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), Julie Dash (Daughter of the Dust), and Matthew Cherry (Hair Love), just to name a few.
The conversation around the takeover will use the dedicated hashtag #ARRAYNow. Some of the most ingenious filmmakers will join Ava DuVernay on Twitter to talk movies all day.
I asked some of my fave film directors on @Twitter to hang with me and talk movies all day. They said yes. What?!
For movie fans such as ourselves, this is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise tepid climate surrounding film. Studios have hit the pause button, film releases are delayed, films in production are in the same boat.
To get to listen to some of the most creative and influential filmmakers in the business right now is a chance unlike any other. Advice will be shared, stories will be told, favorite movies will surely be discussed. And fans are encouraged to ask questions during the 10-hour+ event.
ARRAY is a grassroots distribution, arts, and advocacy collective focused on films by people of color and woman, as stated on its website.
This will be ARRAY’s fourth daylong filmmaker tweet-a-thon. Duvernay is excited to spring forward conversation surrounding film, and also to encourage people to stay at home.
“The ARRAY FILM FELLOWSHIP is our way of conjuring community, creativity and conversation while we’re all staying at home during these unprecedented times,” said ARRAY founder and Selma director Ava DuVernay.
“With the support and enthusiasm of our friends at Twitter, along with dozens of my fellow filmmakers, we hope the event brings solace and solidarity to those who join us.”
Twitter is incredibly excited to host the event and partner with so many talented and creative filmmakers.
“Highlighting voices and connecting artists to their audience with conversations is core to Twitter, and never has that felt more important. This is going to be a magical day for #FilmTwitter!” said Lara Cohen, Head of Global Partner Solutions at Twitter.
This event is going to be special, in its raw, unfiltered state of filmmakers letting their Twitter fingers fly. Make sure to tune in and join the conversation with #ARRAYNow.
