Image Credit: Google Images

Lonzo Ball wants to “lead his career” with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports

Just a few months ago, the Ball brother trio of Lonzo Ball, LiAngelo Ball, and LaMelo Ball, all signed with Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports for management and representation. While it could be speculated whether the trio would eventually sign with PUMA Hoops due to Jay Z’s title as Creative Director for the sportswear brand, Lonzo, the eldest, has decided to choose a different path with the announcement he will ultimately sign with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports per ESPN’s Malika Andrews.

Lonzo Ball is signing with Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, per @malika_andrews

"I wanted to lead my career… It was the right time to make that call." pic.twitter.com/eNdAaAoDgq

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 14, 2020

“I wanted to lead my career,” Ball stated. “Picking my own representation — just solely as my decision — was step one in that process. For me, it was an easy call, and it was the right time to make that call.” Ball has had several different representatives since his professional career began in 2017. He previously was represented by family friend Harrison Gaines, before moving on to CAA, Creative Artists Agency, followed by Roc Nation Sports.

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Expectations for Ball were certainly high being the #2 overall pick for his hometown Los Angeles Lakers. They were prompted even higher thanks to his father, Lavar Ball, stating Lonzo was “better than Steph Curry” and deciding to not take any endorsement or sponsorship meetings and instead wearing his family’s ‘Big Baller Brand’ sneakers.

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Hopefully the 2020 – 2021 NBA season will be Ball’s best as he has recently begun to workout in preparation for it and has his eyes set on not just the playoffs, but, an award his teammate Brandon Ingram collected this year. “Once we get in the playoffs, we take it one game at a time,” Ball said. “For myself, I think Most Improved Player is definitely something I can get next year.”

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The post Lonzo Ball Signs with Klutch Sports, leaving Jay Z’s Roc Nation appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

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By: Devin White

Atlanta based creative Devin White has released a soulful new record titled “Fever“. As a professional, husband, and father, he is following his true passion by putting his musical aspirations on front street. His promotion of love on a universal cylinder, is one of many reasons why this single is his best material to date.

It is rare that you find an artist who’s lyrical content matches up with their vocals like magic. That is the best way to describe the vibe of “Fever”. The sexy, mature sound that pours from this release, can be credited to his growth as a musical genius. As he continues to achieve new heights, his work as an A&R scout for Rel Carter the director of A&R for Roc Nation, has allowed him to enter into a new creative space.

White’s rich harmonious tone of voice reminds you of REAL authentic R&B. Some notable lyrics from “Fever” are “black or white wrong or right who do you love when your home at night”. These bars reflect his desire to share the message of the power of love.

One thing that is for certain is that Devin White is a superstar. Press play below to stream his newest single “Fever”.

The post Devin White Releases Soulful “Fever” Single appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Recently, Nicole Bus embarked on Common‘s “Let Love” tour as a supporting act. The 11-stop tour is slated to end in late-July and could lead to a potential collaboration between the two. For more soulful reggae music, make sure to keep an eye on Nicole Bus later this year. Peep the song below.

The post R&B Singer Nicole Bus Delivers “Mr. Big Shot” Ahead Of Forthcoming Debut Album appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photographer Ismail “Calligrafist” Sayeed. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary/Get Fit Radio TV

Photographer, Ismail “Calligrafist” Sayeed checked in with Scoop B Radio podcast’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Press Play Below To Listen!

If you read articles on the internet then you’ve seen his work. Photographer Ismail “Calligrafist” Sayeed has photographed the latest and greatest.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama, Dwyane Wade, Jay-Z, Fabolous, DJ Khaled, P.Diddy and many more have been photographed under the keen lens of Calligrafist.

His photography is a bridge between fashion, lifestyle, hip hop and culture.

He’s everywhere!  Literally!

Homeboy’s work has appeared in reputable publications such as Billboard, ESPN, Bleacher Report, HBO, CBS Sports, Complex, Catch Restaurant, Reebok, Nike, Adidas, New York Fashion Week, DJ USA, Hot 97, Power 105.1, S.O.B.’s, Tidal, BET, VIBE, Mass Appeal, The Shade Room, Hype Beast, The Source Magazine, REVOLT, RESPECT Magazine, Bleu Magazine and Elliot Wilson and Brian ‘B.Dot” Miller’s Rap Radar.

All of that said…guess what? He’s not comfortable! 

“The kind of person that I am, I just want to do more,” Calligraist told RESPECT Magazine today by phone.

“This is just the beginning.” 

Forever Uptown… it’s a Harlem Thing. | #CalligrafistChronicles | www.CalligrafistPhotography.com

A post shared by Ismail اسما عيل Calligrafist™ (@calligrafist) on Dec 15, 2017 at 7:12pm PST

Harlem, NY bred and globally influenced, Calligrafist actually didn’t aspire to be a photographer. In fact, he fell in love with the art of graffiti and calligraphy; hence the nickname, ‘Calligrafist.’

A man of faith, the devout Muslim is college educated at Jamia Madinatul Uloom University in Trinidad & Tobago, where he studied Quranic Studies and Arabic reading and writing.

Calligrafist acknowledges seasoned hip hop photographers like Johnny Nunez and Jonathan Mannion  who have undoubtedly paved the way for on-the rise photographers such as himself. Calligrafist emphasizes that he’s glad to sit at the table with them and eat, while also gaining their respect for his skin in the game. “It’s genuinely cool to have intimate conversations with them,” he said.

“It’s more humbling that I am able to have direct access to people that I look up to like them and someone like Lenny S., DJ Clark Kent, Emory Jones, that have a name in the industry, people that have a place in the culture, for people to acknowledge me for more my work; that’s an honor. That’s more humbling. But it moves me to want to do more.”

For more information on Calligrafist and his photographic/art movement, visit www.calligrafistphotography.com and scroll up and press play to listen to our chat on Scoop B Radio! 

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The post Scoop B: Photographer Ismail “Calligrafist” Sayeed is a rising star who has stayed true to both his Islamic faith & his craft appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: Roc Nation

It looks like Jay-Z and his Roc Nation team certainly are in the holiday spirit, judging from a new 9-track compilation album titled A Very ROC Christmas. The project sees some gems from James Fauntleroy (actually, three from him, which is interesting), DJ Mustard and his artist Ella Mai, DNCE and more…one possible standout on the release would be “3 Kings,” a collaboration between DJ Khaled, Fabolous and Yo Gotti.

Stream A Very ROC Christmas below.

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The post Roc Nation Gifts the Masses with A Christmas Album [Stream] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

DJ Khaled and Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Photo Credit: Eric Salvary/Get Fit Radio.TV

Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson chats with mega-producer DJ Khaled about where the source of his inspiration comes from. That’s A Major Key!! Pres Play below to check it out.

It may be cliche to say that over the last couple of years mega producer, DJ Khaled has literally offered you major keys to success and showed you how to be grateful.

If you’re tardy to the party, those two phrases are actually names of his last two successful albums that feature the likes of Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Drake Nicki Minaj and more.

While many recognize DJ Khaled as a snapchat phenomenon, his journey is a testament to hard work and never giving up.

Some of you saw Khaled before you knew who he was? Remember at the beginning of Fat Joe’s “Lean Back” song he shouts out: ‘Yeah Khaled I see you!?’

Fast forward to the 0:35 mark to view

Yup he was referencing DJ Khaled!

Before Khaled was the Terror Squad’s DJ or was a producer, he was a radio personality.  In the late 90s DJ Khaled co-hosted The Luke Show with 2 Live Crew’s Uncle Luke on Miami’s WEDR 99 Jamz.

For seven years he also hosted a show with Miami radio personality K Foxx on 99 Jamz. Fast forward to today, the journey has been worth it.

“Life every day inspires me,” DJ Khaled told me on Scoop B Radio.

“God gave us life and we should never take that for granted and not just that but I have a lot of people that rely on me. I take care of my mother and father and I have a son.”

DJ Khaled and son, Asah Khaled. Photo Credit: BET

Being the snapchat king, having a successful album and being a father has given the 41-year old Miami, Florida resident a zereoed-in perspective.

“But God is the inspiration,” said DJ Khaled. “He keeps us and gives us the strength everyday to embrace the blessings.”

Plus we can have fun in between like that time DJ Khaled intoduced us to the Wild Thoughts Salsa Dance!

Think it is safe to say that business is booming!

“It’s amazing and I’m not going to take it for granted,” said DJ Khaled. “ I’m going to just keep going hard.”

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The post DJ Khaled: “Life Every Day Inspires Me” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.