Archives: Episodes

Atlantic RecordsTank is among R&B’s most revered voices.

Over the course of his extensive career, the “Maybe I Deserve” crooner has worked with the likes of Jamie Foxx,Keyshia Cole and the late Aaliyah. The formula to his longevity, however, doesn’t necessarily come down to his songwriting ability but rather his business acumen. 

In an introspective sit-down, with the LA Times, the seasoned producer expounded on how he’s managed to remain a fixture in the landscape of R&B for over two decades. “As older artists, we have to understand the game has changed,” Tank told the publication. “Go to Spotify, see your streaming numbers, talk to your fans.”

He added, “It’s important to understand different things you have to do to get yourself in a space where you can be a part of something that didn’t exist 20 years in the game.”

In the age of the streaming era, Tank was admittedly frustrated by the lack of attention contemporary R&B artists were receiving on a mainstream level. And, in an effort to produce what he felt would appeal to today’s generation, while also staying true to his unique sound, “When We” was spawned. Since it’s release, last year, the record has topped the adult R&B charts and gone platinum. It has also amassed over 30 million streams on Spotify. 

“I wish I could say I masterminded the whole thing, but that would be a lie,” Tank said of the career milestone. “Where we are today, people don’t have to be programmed by radio.” 

“The fact that people have more control over their listening habits — they can search out music and make their own playlists — it’s giving R&B a real shot again.”

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ABC/Randy HolmesKanye West‘s latest string of tweets have now roped in singer Ariana Grande.

Early Saturday morning, the Kids See Ghosts lyricist shared a screenshot of a tweet penned by Grande in which she jokingly chided Kanye in the midst of his Twitter tirade against fellow rapper Drake. “I know Ariana said this to be cool and didn’t mean no harm but I don’t like even slightest level of slight commentary from someone I know loves and respects me,” Kanye captioned the screenshot.

“All of this foolishness weighed on my mental health…I got love for you but until you’re ready to really make sure everyone’s ok don’t use me or this moment to promote a song,” Ye added.

On Thursday night, Grande’s slight shade went viral as she was preparing to debut her new single “Imagine.” The since-deleted tweet read: “Guys, I know there are grown men arguing online [sic] right now. But Miley and I [are] dropping our beautiful, new songs tonight. So, if y’all could please [sic] just behave for just like a few hours so the girls can shine that’d be so sick. Thank you.”

While most online users took the comment in stride, Kanye was clearly offended by the singer’s sense of humor.

Hours after catching wind of Ye’s tweets, however, Grande responded to the rapper on Twitter, “With all due respect, I don’t need to use anyone to promote anything. It was a joke which I understand now was probably insensitive.”

She continued, “I apologize if I was in any way triggering and hope you feel well today.”

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ABC/Image Group LA

Offset is determined to win back Cardi B.

Early Saturday morning, the Migos front man took to social media to plead with the “Money” rapper for forgiveness. “I want to apologize to you Cardi, you know I embarrassed you. I made you look crazy,” Offset said in a video posted to Instagram.

“I was partaking in activity that I shouldn’t been taking in and I apologize for breaking your heart, breaking our promise, breaking God’s promise, and being a selfish messed up husband.”

He continued, “I love you and Kulture. I want to spend Christmas with you. I wanna be able to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Unfortunately for Set, his pleas have apparently fallen on deaf ears; he has yet to receive a public response from Cardi. 

As previously reported, the Grammy-nominated artist broke off her relationship with Offset amid cheating rumors earlier this month. The Atlanta hitmaker, however, has been adamant in his attempt to mend their marriage.

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iStock(SALT LAKE CITY) — The Winter Olympics may be making a return to Salt Lake City — at least the U.S. Olympic Committee hopes so.

The USOC announced on Friday evening that they have chosen Utah’s capital to pitch to the International Olympic Committee as a host for the 2030 Games. Salt Lake City was chosen over Denver. For now, the USOC is still referring to Salt Lake City as the U.S.’s choice for a “potential” 2030 bid.

“I’d like to thank Denver and Salt Lake City, and their respective leadership teams, for participating in this process and their commitment to make the Olympic and Paralympic movements stronger,” USOC Chair Larry Probst said in a statement. “We’re incredibly lucky to have multiple able and willing cities to choose from, but in the end, we believe Salt Lake City will give us the best chance to return the winter Games to the U.S.”

It’s not yet clear what international cities Salt Lake City will be competing against. The selection will not be made by the IOC until 2023.

Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Games in 2002. It was the first U.S. city to host the Winter Olympics since Lake Placid, New York, in 1980 — famously highlighted by the U.S. men’s ice hockey’s “Miracle on Ice” team.

The U.S. has hosted the Winter Games four times: 1932 (Lake Placid), 1960 (Squaw Valley, California), 1980 (Lake Placid) and 2002 (Salt Lake City). Denver, beaten out as this year’s U.S. representative, was actually named as host for the 1976 Games by the IOC, before withdrawing four years beforehand.

The 2002 Games, less than six months after Sept. 11, went off without a hitch despite serious security concerns. Mitt Romney, the CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, was hailed worldwide for his effort in bringing the games to reality after rescuing them from a financial crisis. He used the goodwill as a launching point in his political career, serving as governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007, and running for president in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

Romney just won a midterm election to be named senator from Utah. He hailed the selection of Salt Lake City for the USOC’s candidate for the 2030 Games.

Beijing was named as host for the 2022 Winter Olympics, while the host for the 2026 Games has yet to be selected. The IOC will be choosing between Stockholm and Italy’s two-city bid of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

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iStock(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Friday’s  sports events:

NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Boston 129, Atlanta 108
OT N.Y. Knicks 126, Charlotte 124
Milwaukee 114, Cleveland 102
Brooklyn 125, Washington 118
Indiana 113, Philadelphia 101
Miami 100, Memphis 97
Golden State 130, Sacramento 125
Denver 109, Oklahoma City 98
Portland 128, Toronto 122

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
OT New Jersey 5, Vegas 4
Pittsburgh 5, Boston 3
OT Arizona 4, N.Y. Rangers 3
Ottawa 4, Detroit 2
SO Washington 6, Carolina 5
OT St. Louis 4, Colorado 3
OT Winnipeg 4, Chicago 3
Edmonton 4, Philadelphia 1

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Photo by Phil Ellsworth / ESPN Images(NEW ORLEANS) — After he set the NFL career passing yards record earlier this season, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees set out to do something special to recognize all of the players who played a part in the record.

So, he surprised nearly 200 former teammates, coaches and mentors with commemorative footballs this week.

“I wanted to do something for everybody,” Brees said. “You just start thinking about all the guys that had a hand in that.”

Among the big names who received a football from Brees, former San Diego Chargers teammate LaDainian Tomlinson, ex-Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (now playing for the Los Angeles Chargers), and Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Norv Turner (Turner’s Panthers are the Saints’ next opponent).

Brees credited Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, and members of the communications staff with putting together a list of teammates and tracking down addresses and other information. The 39-year-old initially wanted to honor every player who had ever caught a pass from him, but said he then thought about every offensive lineman who blocked for him and every coach he has had.

“It was actually a long list,” Brees said. “But I just wanted to do that for them.”

One other person who received the gift was Dr. James Andrews, who performed surgery on Brees’ shoulder in 2006.

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4kodiak/iStock(NEW YORK) — The United States Olympic Committee has selected Salt Lake City to represent the U.S. in a potential bid for the 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Salt Lake City and Denver were the two finalists to represent the U.S. after Reno/Tahoe, Nevada dropped out of the running. In a press release, USOC Chair Larry Probst said Salt Lake City was eventually chosen because “we believe Salt Lake City will give us the best chance to return the winter Games to the U.S.”

The Utah capital hosted the 2002 Winter Games.

The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city for the 2030 Games. It is not yet clear when the IOC will make that decision.

Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

ABC/Image Group LA Offset is the last of the three Migos expected to release his solo effort, but it appears that the rapper has failed to deliver. And, one fan theory points to his recent marital woes with Cardi B as the reason. 

Early last month, the Atlanta lyricist shared a cryptic tweet which led many of his fans to believe that a new project was in store.  “12-14-18,” the tweet read leaving room for assumption. On Friday, however, there was no mention of any album via his social handles.  

But, according to a handful of Offset fans his very public break-up with Cardi has distracted the “Walk It Talk It” artist from delivering new music. Early Friday morning, Twitter was filled with a hailstorm of reactions after the project was nowhere to be found.

“Offset been crying about Cardi so much he forgot to drop the damn album,” one social media user tweeted. 

As previously reported, Cardi announced her split from Offset on social media amid rumors of infidelity. 

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Juan NavarroJust when it was safe to assume the dust had settled,  regarding the heated “king of R&B” debate, Tory Lanez has now formally challenged Jacquees for the title. 

The Toronto-bred lyricist apparently joined in on the conversation during a recent concert, telling Jacquees to reach out to him directly. “Man tell that n***a Jacquees to holla at me one time. Tell that n***a holla at me no autotune,” Lanez tells the audience in a fan video captured from the performance. 

While the “Talk To Me Nice” rapper has previously collaborated with the Cash Money Records signee, it appears his challenge is all in friendly competition. In the wake of his comments, which prompted responses from Trey Songz, Tyrese and Tank, Lanez even defended Jacquees via social media. 

“The last time I saw Tyrese, the n***a was beefing with The Rock and he was putting out a rap album,” Lanez commented during a recent Instagram Live session. “Now, you wanna come over here talking about some R&B to the young n***as.” 

As previously reported, Jacquees proclaimed himself to be the “king of R&B right now” on Monday which spawned the seemingly never-ending debate. 

Getty Images/Scott DudelsonOver the course of this year, Kid Cudi has been vocal in sharing his bout with depression. 

Now, the Kids See Ghosts rapper is sitting down with Jada Pinkett-Smith to detail his struggles with mental health for the latest installment of Red Table Talk. In a brief clip of the candid roundtable discussion, teased via Facebook, Cudi explains how he attempted to self-diagnose his depressive episodes. 

“For a long time, I was not happy when I woke up in the morning,” the Chicago native begins. “Just being like, ‘why don’t I feel okay?’ It started off with something as simple as that.” 

“It took me a minute to realize there was something going wrong with me.”

In an additional clip of the forthcoming episode, the “Solo Dolo” lyricist reveals how he masked his personal woes from friends and family. “I was really good at keeping my troubles hidden… even from my friends,” Cudi explains. “I really was good with that. And it’s scary because you hear people say, ‘I had no clue.’”

Be sure to keep an eye out for the full-length episode of Red Table Talk, featuring Kid Cudi, available next week on Facebook Watch.