HIP HOP NEWS: CARDI B & NICKI MINAJ

The bitter feud between Cardi B and Nicki Minaj escalated earlier this week when the two artists were reportedly caught in a fight at a New York Fashion Week event.

On Friday (September 7) night, news surrounding the duo’s brawl surfaced when Cardi was escorted out of the Harper’s Bazaar ICONS party by security. Videos of what happened inside the star-studded event — including the footage below — have since gone viral. According to Cosmopolitan, Nicki allegedly stepped on the gown of the “I Like It” artist intentionally and caused it to rip, leading to the physical confrontation between the two and Cardi ultimately throwing a shoe at her rival. The 25-year-old star was photographed barefoot and bruised when exiting the soirée.

Following the incident, Cardi has taken to her Instagram account to share a scathing message intended for Minaj:

“I’ve let a lot of sh*t slide! I let you sneak diss me, I let you lie on me, I let you attempt to stop my bags, f*ck up the way I eat! You’ve threaten other artists in the industry, told them if they work with me you’ll stop f*ckin with them!! I let you talk big sh*t about me!!”

You may read Cardi’s post in full below.

ELLE magazine has tapped Nicki Minaj to be its July 2018 cover star. For the feature’s spread Nicki was styled in a glazed-canvas Fendi coat with floor-length tresses to pair. The Queens rapper has confirmed the upcoming release of her fourth studio album, Queen. She reflects on the state of hip-hop and her own career in a revealing cover interview.

With this album, it’s clear that she plans to stay away from the trap sound:

“I feel like true icons shift music, uplift music, switch music, have the balls to take a chance. The things that people do come so easy to me. I could do it in my sleep. But I’m such a perfectionist that when something is too easy to me, I actually feel guilty. It would’ve been so easy to listen to all the trap music out there right now and say, ‘Let me just copy this. But I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself. The truth of the matter is, trap has taken over so much that even our New York rappers are doing nothing but trap songs, because they feel that that’s the way to make it. They’re rapping like people from down south.”

Minaj also reflects on how changes in her life have impacted her creativity. Following the end of her her two-year relationship with Philly rhymer Meek Mill she finally has had the opportunity to be single as an adult:

“Spiritually, I’ve experienced more growth in the last six months of my life, of my career, than I have in the last eight years. I remember feeling like I could do anything at one time in my life…and somewhere along the line, I just started second guessing myself, for whatever reason. As soon as I realized that I could actually live and breathe, and eat and sleep, and walk and talk without having a boyfriend, something clicked in me.”

When asked about the tension between her and fellow New Yorker Cardi B, she cleverly skirts around the issue while making a few subtle references.

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NEW WHIPS: BMW / BUGATTI

After teasers and a first look, BMW has finally officially debuted the 2019 Z4 M40i Roadster First Edition at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.

The First Edition Z4 M40i sports a “Frozen Orange Metallic” paint job with BMW Individual high Gloss Shadow Line, a silver-tinged “Anthracite” fabric top (that can stow in ten seconds), adaptive LED headlights, black mirror caps and two-tone, double-spoke 19-inch wheels. The interior sees contrast-stitch black leather power seats, BMW Live Cockpit Profession screens and Harmon Kardon surround sound audio system.

A twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six-engine packs an estimated sub-four-second run from standstill to 60 miles per hour, assisted by adaptive, M-tuned sports suspension, M Sport rear differential and M Sport braking package. Final numbers will be released on September 18.

Bugatti has revealed a brand new hypercar to the public at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Called the Divo, it is based on the Chiron chassis but revamped with entirely new carbon fiber bodywork. Because it has a more rigid chassis in comparison to the Chiron as well as an increase in downforce of 198 pounds, its top speed is limited to 236 MPH.

It contains the same W16 power plant as the Chiron but weighs 77 pounds less – meaning the Divo laps the Nardo test track eight seconds faster. The car comes in at a whopping $5.8 million USD, more than double the base price of the Chiron which costs $2.7 million USD. If you want to or have the means to cop, you might be out of luck as only 40 Divos will be made and orders have already been placed on all of them.

FRESH KICKS: NIKE

Nike keeps the retro trail runner sneakers keeping, following up the return of the Air Terra Humara with the Air Max 270 Bowfin, a strapped-up take on one of Nike’s newest Air Max styles. The Bowfin has surfaced in a half-dozen different colorways, each offering bold hues and contrasting patterns, except for the “Triple Black”-influenced model. Speckling on the midsole, disparate types of textural mesh on the upper and pullcord fastening recalls some of the Swoosh’s vintage trail and ACG sneakers.

After making its first debut back in July, Nike‘s Air VaporMax Light 2 reemerges in two classic color schemes of “Black/White” and “Triple Black.”

The eye-catching hybrid features a high-top boot profile with a sock-like fit. The knitted upper features graphic leather overlays that fuse Western boot characteristics with modern elements thanks to the semi-VaporMax sole unit. The “Black/White” version offers a bold, high-contrast look while the all-black colorway keeps it more low-key. Both versions feature a black knit upper, sole unit and semi-transparent black VaporMax heel.

Following a debut mismatched colorway via Skepta’s collaboration and a gunmetal grey edition slated for general release, Nike‘s Air Max 97 BW now surfaces in a striking metallic silver edition.

The hybrid silhouette fuses the Air Max BW upper with a full-length Air Max 97 sole unit. This iteration features a metallic silver leather and mesh upper, a white 3M reflective strip above the mudguard, black textile accents at the ankle, a violet rubber Swoosh and Air Max branding at the heel. Completing the shoe’s retro feel is a full-length Air Max 97 sole unit in white, black and grey.

Nike‘s Air Force 1 LV8 is the latest silhouette to receive the deconstructed, logo-centric treatment. Arriving in two black and white colorways, this version of the classic low-top features a tonal leather upper and rubber cupsole, contrasted by leather Swooshes, heel pull tabs and Nike branding in the alternate color.

The main elements of this model are the exposed textile tags, the mini Swooshes with trademark symbols and the small touches of yellow, all of which make an easy reference to Virgil Abloh‘s Off-White™ design codes.

NIKE SPORTSWEAR NEWS:

Tennis superstar Serena Williams has been banned from wearing her Nike black catsuit at next year’s French Open.

According to ESPN, French Tennis Federation president, Bernard Giudicelli, says the tournament will be introducing a dress code because, “I think that sometimes we’ve gone too far.” The comment is sourced in an interview for Tennis Magazine‘s 500th edition. He continued, referring to Williams’ black catsuit, “It will no longer be accepted. One must respect the game and the place.”

Giudicelli continued by stating they will be looking at players’ uniforms ahead of the tournament to ensure they are in line with the new rules, however they won’t be as strict as Wimbledon, which requires players to wear all-white. Head over to ESPN for the full story.

Williams first donned the Nike bodysuit back in May following the birth of her daughter. On that outfit Williams stated, “I feel like a warrior in it, like a warrior princess kind of, [a] queen from Wakanda. I’m always living in a fantasy world. I always wanted to be a superhero, and it’s kind of my way of being a superhero. I feel like a superhero when I wear it.”

After making his Series A debut with Juventus last weekend, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will be starring in his first home game for the Italian champions.

To celebrate the occasion, Nike has placed a large billboard highlighting Ronaldo’s glorified career on a building situated in Turin’s Piazza Vittorio Veneto. The Italian ad touches upon his achievements at both Manchester United as well as Real Madrid. Take a look at the image  via Twitter and a full translation below.

Juventus will face off against Lazio.

In related news, Cristiano Ronaldo and his Juventus kit are the cover stars of FIFA 19.

“Become the first player in Europe to score 350 goals for a single club as quickly as possible (335 games). Become the first player to score 40 goals in a professional league for two consecutive seasons. Score in every 90 minutes. Become the only player in history to score 60 or more goals in a solar year (and do it four years in a row). Score five goals and an assist in a single game. Become the only player to score more than 50 goals in six different (consecutive) campaigns. Become your team’s all-time top goalscorer (451 goals). Score the most goals in seven consecutive league games (15). Win 15 trophies with your club. Score 573 club competition goals. Total 763 appearances at club level. Be first to reach 100 goals in European club competition. Score the most goals in European club competition (123). Score the most goals in Europe’s biggest club tournament (120). Score the most goals in seven consecutive games in Europe’s biggest club tournament (15). Score the biggest number of goals in the five major European leagues (396 goals). Become the only player to score in 11 consecutive games in Europe’s biggest competition. Become the only player to score in three European finals. Score the record number of goals in a single edition of Europe’s biggest tournament (17). Win the most European finals (5). Win the most awards for best club player, best in Europe, best player in the world (4). Become the only player to score 10 goals against a single team in Europe’s biggest tournament. Win five Ballons d’Or. Now forget everything, and start again.”

During his performance last night at the Cabaret Vert Festival in France, rapper Travis Scott took to the stage to debut a never-seen-before collaborative basketball jersey from Paris Saint-Germain and Jordan Brand.

Though we have seen a couple of pieces in the past as part of the still rumored Paris Saint-Germain x Jordan Brand capsule, speculation has all but been confirmed with Scott’s appearance in the jersey along with Justin Timberlake having debut a jacket earlier in the year.

In addition to the basketball jersey and coach jacket, an Air Jordan 1 and Air Jordan 5 PSG-infused silhouettes have also surfaced. Nike has been a long-time sponsor for the French powerhouse club, so it doesn’t come as a big surprise that a range of Jordan Brand gear is in the works. It’s also been rumored that Paris Saint-Germain will play in Jordan Brand kits next year for the Champions League.

STREETWEAR: John Elliott SS19 Revels in LA's Nonchalant Style

John Elliott took his eponymous label back to New York Fashion Week to debut his latest range of effortless sportswear and laid-back denim. “New York is still king in terms of American fashion,” Elliott said during the pre-show fittings. “You have to go where the audience is, and that’s here in New York. I mean, I love New York, I wear a Yankees hat damn near every day.” This personal approach to design is immediately apparent upon viewing the new range, with worn-in accents reflecting the designer’s intent to create comfortable clothing for daily life.

Building upon Fall/Winter 2018’s combined men’s and women’s styling, the new collection showcased more collaborative Suicoke sandals and new jewelry designed in collaboration with Japanese brand M・A・R・S. Lived-in touches included blown-out knees in the Japanese denim, cardigans buttoned insouciantly and cracked leather jackets courtesy of Blackmeans. Los Angeles’ ornamental bougainvillea was repurposed into a floral print, while the designer’s classic bomber jackets, parkas, work shirts and trucker jackets reappeared in slouchy, effortless cuts — some women’s items were cropped for extra disparity. Elliott also showed off different colorways of his collaborative LeBron Icon sneaker and a revised ACG Revaderchi, seen without laces.

Capping off the new range was an official partnership with the City of Los Angeles, with select items marked by the city’s official seal. All of the proceeds from these items would be given to charity. “The title of the collection is ‘Supported by the City of Los Angeles,’” reveals Elliott. “We’ll be able to do activations around the city, and donate back to causes within the city. … It’s important that we’re having these conversations at the highest level.”

Elsewhere at New York Fashion Week, KITH revealed collaborations with Versace, Columbia, UGG and more.

#NIKE - Colin Kaepernick Helped Boost Nike's Online Sales by 31%

Nike has decidedly placed athlete Colin Kaepernick on the face of its “Just Do It” campaign as revealed today, in a controversial move.

Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, first came under the spotlight for choosing to sit during the national anthem in 2016, and then later kneeling against racial injustice and police brutality. Nike’s poster, which prominently states “Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything.” is a powerful statement that the Beaverton, Oregon company is placing, correlating to the Trump administration’s view on kneeling players of the NBA and NFL. The move eventually led to Kaepernick being indirectly forced out of the league.

The act sparked controversy between the players and the Trump administration, with the president going as far as stating “Wouldn’t you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, ‘Get that son of a b—- off the field right now, out — he’s fired!’” Nike has not used Kaepernick for its campaigns for two years until now.

“We believe Colin is one of the most inspirational athletes of this generation, who has leveraged the power of sport to help move the world forward,” said Nike’s vice president of brand for North America Gino Fisanotti to ESPN.

Senior reporter Charles Robinson also shed some insight into the deal between Nike and Kaepernick via Twitter, saying “- It’s wide endorsement. He’s going to have his own branded line. Shoes, shirts, jerseys, etc. There will be Kaepernick apparel.”

After receiving news that Nike raked in $43 million USD worth of media exposure for its controversal Colin Kaepernick ad, it has now be reported that the sportswear giant’s online sales have also grown by 31%. This big boost in sales also has Kaepernick to thank.

According to a report from Edison Trends, Nike’s online sales grew 31% from Sunday through Tuesday of Labor Day weekend this year, which is notably greater than last year’s 17% seasonal increase. This data includes only online sales and omits the company’s brick and mortar locations.

Though Nike’s online sales have currently seen a boost, its stock fell more than 3% when it initially announced the endorsement deal with Kaepernick. Keep it locked here for more on the story.

In case you’ve missed it, Colin Kaepernick leads Nike’s powerful “Dream Crazy” campaign video.