Power 105’s DJ Clue and Scoop B Radio host Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson in New York City. Photo Courtesy of: The Brandon Robinson Brand

Check out DJ Clue and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio

The NFL and NBA’s season are literally around the corner. That means one thing: the release of Madden 18, NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K 18 video games are a fast break pass and a 2-minute drill away from releasing.

Over the last ten-plus years, the NBA 2K franchise has established itself as a premier hoops platform. This year, EA Sports has made a comeback with their release of NBA Live 18 and James Harden as the game’s cover athlete. One of the coolest features of the game is a mode that allows you to play with WNBA teams; the first of its kind and according to my buddy Brian Mazique at FORBES Magazine, by way of Chicago the game’s soundtrack is pretty solid!

Speaking of soundtracks, I’m always enamored by the evolution of video game soundtracks. One of the catalysts of that was NBA Live 2003.

The game had Jason Kidd on the cover and the game’s intro, ‘It’s In The Game,’ was performed by Fabolous with DJ Clue producing the track. “You know it’s funny I was just thinking about that today,” DJ Clue told me on Scoop B Radio.

“I was thinking about how,  I think I saw James Harden say he was on the cover of the new Live. So I was thinking: ‘Man it wasn’t too long ago that I produced the intro to Live and it had rap on it.”

Added DJ Clue:

“I think that sometimes  you get caught in the moment and you don’t realize how big something is that you are doing.”

The track and video was pretty legit!

“They gave me no restrictions on how to be with sound, but they gave me sound effects that they wanted me to actually incorporate into actually beats.The whistle, the feet squeaking, the dunk, they gave me all those sounds. So I was in the studio, I was doing a beat and I came up with the beat and they came up with the rap and I had to go back and put the sound effects in from what he was rapping about.”

That he that DJ Clue is referring to was Fabolous.

Fabolous’ wordplay on the track was insane:

“‘I’m the crowd favorite and I believe the fans love the way I finger roll it with either hand, my handles pull it through presses plus I can play the lane and block shots like bulletproof vestes.’

How the heck did Fab turn the plural of the word ‘vest’ into his own wording? Years later he’d do it again in his song “Breathe,” when he changed the plural of the word ‘mask’ into ‘maskes.’

But I digress!

“It was a cool experience,” Fabolous told me in a recent interview.

“The whole video game, I actually got to visit the EA Sports headquarters and got to see the stuff behind games; the real geeky, techy side, that was even cool. It was really, really, really a cool experience.”

According to DJ Clue, not only did he take part in the producing process of the game, in the NBA Live 2003 game, EA Sports created a creation of the DJ Clue if you put a special code in. “If you typed in the code ‘Mixtape,’ I personally came up in the game as a player you could play with a 96 rating,” said DJ Clue while on Scoop B Radio.

A 96 rating Clue? Don’t let current NBA players hear that!

Apparently EA Sports crafted the Power 105 dj’s likeness after Tracy McGrady, who will be a minted an NBA Hall of Famer in a couple of weeks at the NBA’s Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Make sure to check out DJ Clue’s interview in its entirety by clicking here. Not only did DJ Clue discuss NBA Live 2003, he also discussed his infamous ‘Clueminati’ and William M. Holla Drops before the start of songs.

“I have always heard people talk about the Illuminati,” said DJ Clue.

“But it was, I wanted to try and put my own little twist to it. So I came up with Clueminati, Clue Fargino you know all those names, just to keep it interesting. You know Fidel Cashflow, you know.”

DJ Clue also discussed what it was like working with Mariah Carey on tracks like  “Thank God I Found You Remix,” a track that DJ Clue produced:

“Mariah is a super perfectionist man,” he said. “So she wants to make sure that when she does vocals that it are done right. She definitely is that person that if she wants you to hear her music it has to be right. She isn’t playing around.”

Clue says Working with Tamia on the So Into You Remix with Fabolous challenged Tamia in a good way: “I feel like I pushed her,” he said.

DJ Clue weighed in on why Jay-Z doesn’t write his lyrics down: “I think Jay started doing that because I think it helps him remember songs,” said DJ Clue.

“There have been times when we have been on stage when he first started. He would be on stage and he would forget a line or two. He would tap me and be like: ‘Yo what’s the line?’ I think coming from that he would just sit and be like: ‘yo maybe if I just memorize it better if I just sit and say it to myself over and over again.. He used to get in the car and be like: ‘yo give me a day or two. He would ride around with his driver and make up his lines. He would call me up and be like: ‘Oooh I got a line.’ That is how it would be.”

He also says Puff Daddy has a pretty good routine while in studio:

“I think with Puff working with him; when I would go to Daddy’s House [his old recording studio]  he would have Total in one room working, then you would have BIG working in another and then have Craig Mack working in another room. He would be bouncing from room to room working on songs; it was crazy! Je would say: ‘Ok I’m working with Total in one room and then be back in an hour, he was going for it. He had a movement, he would be there all times of the night, working on songs. Puff’s work ethic was serious!”

DJ Clue also discussed his own business ventures like his DJ Clue Ap, his forthcoming documentary and his no-tie shoelaces that he has called Clue Lace. The partnership that he and business partner, Randy Parker, a fellow DJ who goes by the stage name DJ ESSO is successful so far. “It is definitely the first no-tie shoelace,” DJ Clue told me.

“If you have kids out there, you know how strenuous it is when you get yelled at to tie your shoelaces. You don’t got to do that! These are the no-tie shoelace. They are flexible, they are dope. They are good for kids in sports. You don’t want to stop the game from the moment on the court because their shoelaces are untied, or trip over them. You can set them one time and it will never go loose. They look stylish too.”

 

There are about 12 varieties of his laces available.

As for DJ Clue’s forthcoming documentary he told Scoop B Radio:

“It is going to take you into different phases of my career,” he said. “The start, obviously you have to go into Queens and check out mom’s crib and the place it all started at. Different times when I was producing with different people, my different travel, of course. It is going to have my trials and tribulations and that kind of stuff. It is like any story. You have to make sure you focus on the good and the bad and all the positives and all the negatives. We want to have it well-rounded so that people can really understand the story and know where the grind came from.”

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The post Scoop B: DJ Clue Discusses Working With Fabolous on NBA Live 2003, Clue Lace, Documentary, Producing For Mariah Carey, Puff Daddy & Jay-Z appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Courtesy of Eric Salvary

Lonzo Ball is the talk of the town in Las Vegas this week. The newly minted Los Angeles Lakers point guard began the Summer League posting five points on 2-of-15 shooting (1-of-11 from downtown) and five assists against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Lakers would lose 96-93 while wearing his signature Big Baller Brand ZO2 shoes that are retailed at $495.

Ball would right the ship on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers by notching 36 points in a win against the Philadelphia 76ers. The face of the Big Baller Brand also turned heads when he donned a purple pair of Kobe Bryant’s Kobe AD sneakers.

“At BBB, you can play in what you want,” Lonzo Ball told ESPN’s SportsCenter after the win. “I already played in both of my shoes, might as well get the ‘Mamba Mentality’ going. Put ’em on, and it worked out tonight.”

Check Out RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson talking Lonzo Ball on NYC’s FloEmpire Radio with Brandon Nix.

Link courtesy of Scoop B Radio:

Last night,, Ball tried on another pair of shoes: James Harden’s Adidas Harden Vol. 1 LS kicks.

Ball, the Lakers’ rookie and number 2 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft messed around and got a triple double in the three stripe kicks. He posted 16 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds in the Lakers’ 94-83 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA’s Summer League.

Lonzo’s dad, LaVar told ESPN.com’ Darren Rovell:

“Lonzo is not forced to wear any brand and can play in any shoe he wants as long as it’s OK with the NBA. This is what being independent is all about.”

Your own #brand is the wave! I respect people who pave their own lane. Respect to @zo @lavar and @bigballerbrand Respect The Shooter: ?? – @boomtownfm . . . #NBADraft x #bigballerbrand x #LonzoBall x #Lakers x #ScoopBRadio x #ScoopBRadioOvertime x #LavarBall x #speakitintoexistence

A post shared by ?B r a n d o n R o b i n s o n (@scoop_b) on Jun 22, 2017 at 3:10pm PDT

Video Courtesy of Eric Salvary and DJ Manny EL. 

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The post Scoop B: Lonzo Ball Exhibiting Sneaker Independence With Big Baller Brand, Kobe A.D. & Adidas James Harden Vol. 1 LS Sneakers appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

RESPECT Magazine’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Courtesy Of: Eric Salvary

It’s a busy summer in the hoops world! On Sunday I appeared on NYC’s FloEmpireRadio.com show “Baseline Perspective” with host Brandon Nix. I talked about the NBA Summer League with the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers Lonzo Ball, Sacramento Kings’ De’aaron Fox and Philadelphia 76ers Markelle Fultz  are making headlines.

Check out Brandon Nix and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson

I also chat with Brandon Nix about Ice Cube’s BIG 3 tournament. We also discuss the soap opera that is James L. Dolan, Phil Jackson, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristap Porzingis. We also discuss the probability of ‘Melo joinging forces with James Harden, Chris Paul and the Houston Rockets. Give it a listen!

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New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony and RESPECT.Magazine managing editor Brandon ”Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Provided By: Ismael ‘Calligrafist’ Sayeed of Calligrafist Photography

The New York Knicks have not played a regular season game since their 114-113 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on April 12, yet they’re still front page news.

Two weeks ago, the orange and blue fired Phil Jackson as Knicks team President. Over the weekend, former Cleveland Cavaliers GM David Griffin removed his name as Jackson’s successor. According to ESPN reports, Griffin had difference of opinion with Knicks ownership over how much control he would have over basketball decisions.

The icing on the cake?

2013 Knicks draftee, Tim Hardaway Jr., played the role of prodigal son after averaging 14.5 points and 2.3 assists in 27 minutes per game as a part-time starter for the Atlanta Hawks. Last week Hardaway Jr. signed a four-year $71 million deal with the Knicks. Despite that signing, online sportsbook TopBet predicts crosstown rivals Brooklyn Nets will finish next season better than the Knicks.

This ushers in the question: Was Tim Hardaway Jr. brought back to the Knicks to replace currrent star Carmelo Anthony?

If that is the case, Hardaway Jr. will have a lot more fun playing under current Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek than he did playing under former Knicks coach Derek Fisher. My sources told me that during Hardaway Jr’s first stint in New York, he bore the burden of being the son of NBA legend Tim Hardaway Sr. I’m told both both Fisher and Hardaway Sr. weren’t the best of friends during their playing careers in the 90s and at times Fisher took that frustration out on Hardaway Jr.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, before being fired as team president of the Knicks, Phil Jackson openly discussed his want to ship Anthony to another team. Anthony, for the record put up decent stats, averaging 22.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game last season. It has been widely reported that Anthony, who has one year remaining on his current contract, is willing to waive his no-trade clause if he’s dealt to the Cavaliers or the Rockets.

On Sunday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, reported that the Knicks have a “renewed willingness” to make a deal that would send Anthony to the Houston Rockets following their acquisition of Hardaway Jr.

Anthony has always contended that New York is what he loves since arriving to the Big Apple in a blockbuster trade with the Denver Nuggets in 2011.

Before signing his five-year, $125 million max deal with the Knicks in the summer of 2014, Anthony sought out the services of brand strategist and consultant, Ben Ricciardi. Ricciardi, the CEO of the Burbank, California based Times 10 brand agency, has been trusted to spearhead roll-out brand initiatives with everyone from Adidas, Nike, the Houston Rockets’ James Harden and others.

In an interview with Scoop B Radio on Friday, Ricciardi, an expert and trusted authority of late via his expert analysis about Uber’s ousted CEO Travis Kalanick said that in 2013, he suggested to Anthony that he needed to show his connectedness to New York City through visual campaigns via social media. After all, Anthony was born in Brooklyn and lived in the borough throughout his teenage years before moving to Baltimore.

#TBT a couple of years ago this commercial with @carmeloanthony helped us grow to a whole different level. Big shout out to @whoischristianvazquez! Also amazing job by to business partner and CCO of @Times10 @mistermichaeladrian. #bentimes10 #carmeloanthony #times10

A post shared by Ben Ricciardi (@bentimes10) on Apr 6, 2017 at 6:57pm PDT

Last week, a video clip of Anthony’s workout with his trainer, Chris Brinkley littered the internet. The video showed Anthony running in the park at 2 A.M. Also last week, another video clip showed interim Knicks President Steve Mills and his Knicks staff chuckling at Anthony’s workout while seated and watching hoops at the NBA’s Orlando Summer League. ESPN’s Ian Begley stated that the Knicks declined to comment on the matter, making it difficult to know what, exactly, was going on at the game.

Knicks executives laughing at Carmelo’s workout tapes is all you need to know about that situation pic.twitter.com/43oGvgf278

— 12up (@12upSport) July 2, 2017

While that drew attention, Anthony’s on-camera off season routine is nothing new. Anthony’s ‘Define Yourself,’ a campaign that detailed how Anthony was changing his body and changing his shape was a fan favorite. According to Ricciardi, the concept all began over lunch with Anthony. “I’m hearing how hard he works and he’s working all through the night, every day on his game, on his body and redefining himself,” Ricciardi told me on Scoop B Radio.

Check out Ben Ricciardi and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Scoop B Radio

 

“I went to him and said: ‘man, like, the world doesn’t know this and the world needs to know why you’re staying in New York.’ You were born in Red Hook and you grew up in Red Hook until you were 13 years old. Everyone thinks of you as a Baltimore kid, but really you’re a New York kid and this is your hometown, and you were raised in Red Hook.”

Ricciardi added:

“Secondarily, people think of you as lazy, they think of you as not working hard and I’m seeing you grinding on your shot, working every day, working with your coaches, working with your trainers, we need to get that out there to people.”

The experiment worked. Anthony’s workout routine has been legendary. In the summer of 2014, he shed about 30 to 40 pounds by cutting carbs and meat from his diet and dedicating to his workout routine. “It wasn’t more about my diet, it was more about the training that I was doing and really pushing myself to that limit,” Anthony told me after his weight loss.

Anthony has been adamant about his loyalty to the Knicks over the years. He told a room full of kids at his annual ProCamps basketball camp: “My window is closing, so I’m trying to get this championship to New York ASAP.”

Ben Ricciardi. Photo Credit: Instagram

Ricciardi and Anthony also collaborated on a visual called ‘This Is Why I Stayed,’ a visual that explained why he chose the Knicks over the Houston Rockets and other teams who were courting Anthony back in 2014. “That piece came out incredible and actually ended up being played Opening Night on all the jumbotrons at Madison Square Garden after the first timeout.”

A six time NBA All Star, Carmelo Anthony, 33 was the NBA’s scoring champion in 2013. Anthony holds the record for the most points scored by a Knick at Madison Square with 62. He’s also a three time USA basketball Olympic gold medalist.

The hardest part of working with Melo may surprise you: “He goes back and forth whether he wants people to see stuff or not,” said Ricciardi. “The stuff came out amazing but he’s always wishy-washy, which you get from celebrities, athletes and people like that. One day they’re all excited and gung-ho and then the next day they’re like: ‘I don’t know if I want the world to see this.’”

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The post Scoop B: Meet Ben Ricciardi, The Brand Strategist Who Pushed Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony To Boast His NYC Roots appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Video screenshot

If you look up James Harden now, you’d be hard-pressed to find much positive energy in regards to his appearance during this year’s NBA Playoffs (not that he didn’t put in work, but the last game he played in was hard to ignore). Nonetheless, Harden was the nucleus of his Houston squad…as Travis Scott was also a key figure during the team’s run, it only makes sense for the two to come together in Scott’s new visual for “Way Back,” the second track taken from last year’s Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight.

In the clip, we see Harden (or someone playing him?) watching as his haters critique his game before he’s found hanging upside-down, rapping along to the song’s lyrics while Scott plays along in the background. The clip then switches to Scott in the backseat of an old-school convertible (driven by a little kid). According to Scott, the final product is dated:

Enjoy “Way Back” below and pick up Birds In The Trap Sing McKnight below.

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Former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter talking strategy with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Angie Vasquez

Last week was a potent week in sports. Let’s see, you’ve got iconic New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter and his jersey retirement ceremony yesterday at Yankee Stadium and you had the San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili who had quite an impressive block on the Houston Rockets’ James Harden in the Western Conference Semi Finals. The Spurs would go on to win that series. Things didn’t get any eaaier as the Spurs had a huge lead on the Golden State Warriors in game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and would end up losing by two.

Washington Wizards’ John Wall chatting with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson about Allen Iverson. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary

The play of the week, however is the heroics of the Washington Wizards’ John Wall. The guard hit a game winner in game 6 of the Eastern Conferece Semi Finals against the Boston Celtics. The shot, propelled the Wizard to tie the series at 3 games apiece and force a game 7.

All of that and more in the latest edition DJ Manny El produced Scoop’s Top Plays!

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The post Jeter, John Wall & Ginobili Headline Scoop’s Top Plays With Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Durant’s curse has been the longest drawn out and received the most media attention, especially after he and the Thunder lost to the Golden State Warriors recently. However, all of Lil’ B’s  beef and mystical forces have been put to the side after the former Oklahoma City star made his move to the Bay Area earlier today! Lil’ B even welcomed KD home in a tweet!

KD’s move to the Warriors has seriously broken the internet since the news was revealed. It seems like people are totally for it or completely against it. There is no middle ground. This might be an even bigger upset than LeBron James taking his talent’s to South Beach!

Regardless of all of the controversy swirling around social media, I say let the man live! Lil’B has, why can’t you!? Next basketball season will be here in a few months and after all the switching up of players, it is guaranteed to be an interesting set of events. Shut up and wait until these new team dynamics show us what they can and can’t do.

Congrats to Kevin Durant for the awesome trade and for finally being curse free!

*Cooks*

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The post Lil B Pardons Kevin Durant of the Based God Curse appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.