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You Can Own Three Unreleased Tupac Songs For A Mere $250,000, But There’s One Small Catch
Flisadam
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The last Tupac verse hip-hop heads heard was an AI-generated release during Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s monumental rap beef. Every so often, whispers that unreleased music from the late icon is on the way surfaces online. However, it appears something as officially come from years of rumors.

According to TMZ, you could own three never heard before verses from Tupac for a mere $250,000. Moments In Time is currently offering one hardcore collector access to a piece of the hip-hop heavy weight’s discography pre-Death Row Records.

The description of the online listing reads: “In late 1990/early 1991 Tupac composed and recorded an unreleased album for a group called Jesse and the Kidz. It was never released due to the tragic death of one of the band members. Not only are the lyrics totally unknown–the recordings of 3 of the album’s songs with Tupac in the lead are as well.”

On paper, the songs (“Leave Us Kidz Alone,” “Streetz Got Ya Babies,” and “Bedtime Storiez”) appear to be rather youthful compared to his more revered works. Still, this hip-hop artifact is sure to gain traction.

As with most things, there is one small catch. In the fine print of Moments In Time’s posting, the times (lyrics and audio) are “available only for private sale.”

Essentially, just like with the Wu-Tang Clan’s infamous Once Upon A Time In Shaolin album, once you purchase the items you can not release it publicly. Well, at least not without the permission of Tupac’s estate.

Moments In Time is currently taking offers for the Tupac goodies. Find more information here.

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Petty: Alex Pereira Fiancé Reacts To His Loss To Magomed Ankalaev! “No More Chama, Karma”

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She’s so petty

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BOSTON — Before Kyrie Irving’s season-ending injury interrupted the news cycle, two debates dominated conversations around the NBA.

The first was whether the NBA — with its long, meandering season — had lost its competitive edge. This debate was tied to yet another NBA All-Star Game fiasco that had fans conflating lack of effort in an exhibition with a lack of competitive fire. Trust me, NBA players have not lost their competitive edge or the underlying pride that fuels it. That fire was on display last summer during the Paris Olympics when the USA men’s basketball team led by LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry held off stiff competition and won another gold medal for the United States.

The competitive edge was apparent here Saturday evening when the defending champion Boston Celtics hosted the Luka Doncic-invigorated Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics won 111-101, but the Lakers, despite falling behind by as many as 21 points, fought back and cut the lead to four points in the fourth quarter.

How important was this game? Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum played a season high 45 minutes and guard Jaylen Brown played 42.

Competition was alive.

NBA players know when and where to seize the moment, and the moment is not at the All-Star Game.

As Brown told reporters after Saturday’s game “It felt like a playoff-type intensity, obviously.”

“The history between the Lakers and the Celtics is prevalent,” Brown said. “Tonight, I felt like both sides brought it from the jump. They started out the gate hitting shots, we matched them, hit some shots. They closed it back late. We were able to create some more separation, but it was a great energy game. Today was not one of those regular season normal games where it’s whatever. Tonight was a good day for basketball.”

The second, more pervasive debate involves the superficial discussion of image — specifically, who is the so called “Face of the NBA.”

No other North American sports league is as obsessed with the “face-of-the-league” question as the NBA. Perhaps it’s because the league and media surrounding the league are defined by a cult of personality which has the effect of making its 82-game regular season a beauty pageant.

Jerry West is “The Logo” but what determines the Face? Points scored? Popularity and endorsements? Jersey sales? The face is an imprecise sliding scale: Ja Morant? Damaged goods and unpredictable. Tatum? Too dull. Anthony Edwards said he doesn’t want to be the face of the NBA, regardless of what it means. To the extent that we want to give credibility to the face-of-the-league debate, the reality is that stars like Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama are more likely to become the imprimatur of a league that has long aspired to be a global entity.

The real faces of the NBA are powerful faces and forces you don’t see. These are the owners and executives who move players around like chess pieces, who let Doncic go to bed as a Dallas Maverick and wake up as a Los Angeles Laker. The faceless faces of power are the face of the NBA.

My overarching question though, is not about the NBA’s face, but about its soul. 

I have thought about this ever since the Super Bowl when NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was bombarded with questions about the NFL’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in light of President Donald Trump’s administration and its virulent war on federally funded DEI initiatives.

Even though most of those who own NBA and NFL teams identify as conservatives and Republicans, the NBA and the NFL employ one of the United States most diverse labor forces. The majority of those they employ are young African American males.

When the league’s backs have been pushed against the wall, as they were in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, these leagues have been effective in forming a moral resistance to heavy handed tactics that imperil a community from which many of the athletes came. Hence the leagues that employ these athletes have not only been sympathetic to DEI initiatives but aggressively support them.

Indeed, the NFL and the NBA which once excluded Black athletes have become American economic and cultural pillars because of their inclusion. The NBA, in particular, has been at the vanguard of social justice and Black History Month initiatives. During his 10 years as NBA commissioner, Adam Silver has supported a number of social justice initiatives, including the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. In 2014, Silver helped persuade owners to oust then-Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling over racist comments.

Two years ago, speaking at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, Silver noted that “Roughly 80% of our players are Black. We feel an obligation to partner with them and to use this incredibly powerful voice we have to speak out on these issues.”

I’m curious to see how the league and its players will respond to the current administration’s aggressive moves to abolish initiatives that the NBA holds dear. Will the league and its largely well-compensated players stick to sports to avoid alienating its fan base?

In Trump’s first term, the Golden State Warriors balked at going to the White House to celebrate their NBA title. The invitation was ultimately withdrawn. In response to the President’s tweet announcing that the Warriors invitation had been withdrawn, James famously tweeted in 2017 “U bum. (Curry) already said he ain’t going so therefore ain’t no invitation. Going to the White House was a great honor until you showed up!”

Eight years later, James, 40, is winding down a phenomenal NBA career. He is part of an outgoing list of future Hall of Famers that includes Kevin Durant, Curry and Chris Paul. In varying degrees, they have been the faces of the NBA but, more importantly, they have been the voice and the conscious of the NBA.

In a transactional environment where ideals and principles can be traded for money, who will take up the mantle? Brown? Tatum? Edwards?

As we anticipate a ferociously competitive NBA playoffs and the crowning of a champion, I’m intrigued less about the Face of the NBA debates.

The larger question is about the state of the NBA’s soul.

MJ Lenderman, Animal Collective, Squirrel Flower And More Appear On A New Hurricane Helene Benefit Compilation
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Back in September 2024, thousands of North Carolinians were impacted by Hurricane Helene–including MJ Lenderman. Months later the “Rudolph” singer and countless other Asheville residents’ journey to rebuild has waged on.

Yesterday (March 7), a new benefit album featuring MJ Lenderman, Animal Collective, Nightlands, Sophie Thatcher, Squirrel Flower, Horse Jumper Of Love, and more released digitally looks to aid in the relief efforts.

We Love It Here is a 12-track project organized by Lamplight AVL showcasing the music works cut at the local recording home for so many, Drop of Sun Studios. While the compilation was previously released on vinyl for a limited time, it can now be enjoyed on digital streaming platform Bandcamp.

In a statement Drop Of Sin’s founder Adam McDaniel spoke about the sentimental project. “The remarkable breadth of these previously unreleased tracks reflect Drop of Sun’s core principle of fostering an environment for artists to freely and boundlessly create,” he said. “Being a resource to the Asheville arts community has yielded wonderful, long-lasting relationships, amazing songs like these, and a platform to communicate and cope during hard times. We are thrilled to share these exclusive songs with you.”

All proceeds raised from We Love It Here will go directly to artists and arts organizations who were impacted by Hurricane Helene. Continue below to view the official tracklist and cover art.

Tracklist

1. Hello Mary – “Take”
2. MJ Lenderman – “Bury The Dog”
3. Nightlands – “MGD”
4. Fust – “Sebastian”
5. Green-House – “Crestfallen”
6. Animal Collective – “Collision Deep”
7. Sophie Thatcher & Maral – “Sad & Beautiful World”
8. Squirrel Flower – “Stick (Alt Version)”
9. Reggie Watts – “Left Side”
10. Horse Jumper Of Love – “Anger Is An Arch (instrumental)”
11. Floating Action – “Xomfort”
12. Animal Collective – “Better Things To Come” (only appears on vinyl release)

Artwork

We Love It Here. A Benefit Compilation For Lamplight AVL is out now. Find more information here.

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The Story Of A Man Who Claimed To Be Sidney Poitier’s Son, Which Led To Gay Rumors About Will Smith!

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That’s one crazy story

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‘House Of The Dragon’ Season 3: Everything To Know So Far About The Pace Finally Picking Up With A Pivotal Battle (But What About That Other One?)
Kimberly Ricci
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George R.R. Martin appears to have moved on from House of the Dragon. He’s much more excited about the next Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which will be a grounded series focused on practical effects. His shift away from HBO’s Fire and Blood adaptation might ease his stress level due to the many changes made by HotD Showrunner Ryan Condal in the second season, which culminated in a muted finale (but the overall audience is still in it, unlike GRRM).

Those head-scratching shifts included toning down the “Blood and Cheese” episode and leaving a vital-to-the-book dragonseed, Nettles, out of the show. Additionally, viewers grew visibly weary at watching Daemon (such a rogue prince/mover and shaker in the first season) do nothing but be haunted and confused while endless strategy sessions took place at Dragonstone. A key clash (the Battle of the Gullet) was also postponed for budgetary reasons, but finally, the third season is promising that long-awaited action. Let’s look at what we can expect from House of the Dragon‘s third season.

Plot

Bad news first? Although the third season will begin with the Battle of the Gullet HBO creatives have not confirmed whether the Battle Above God’s Eye, involving aerial fighting between Daemon and mini-me Aemond, will surface soon. Yet this might really be good news. Although Helaena already prophesied about this clash, it’s hard to imagine Ryan Condal wanting to blow that battle out of the water (er, sky) before the fourth season. After all, this meeting between the show’s pettiest rivals is going to be brutal on a storytelling level. If you’ve read Fire and Blood or dug into Helaena’s angst on the battle, then you know that this fight will be positively climactic.

The better news is that the Battle of the Gullet will bring warring fleets to screen and put words into action with this show. This battle follows the alignment of various houses with Team Green and Team Black, and Lord Corlys/Sea Snake will make good on his vow to do everything possible to advance Rhaenyra’s cause so that she can claim King’s Landing and her rightful place on the Iron Throne. Expect a great loss of life in this fight that will extend through sea and sky, and if the show sticks with a key death in the book, both audience and main characters will be shattered.

HBO’s Head of Drama Series and Films Francesca Orsi told Deadline that this battle will “surprise” viewers, which should be music to the ears of an audience who are craving more energy. Much of the battle’s vitality will come courtesy of a Titanic producer joining the series:

“You know what, it was worth the wait,” Orsi said about the upcoming battle scene. “I was just on set and saw all the elements and what was behind it. I’m so glad we waited because it’s going to be better than ever, and I don’t think we had the time at that point to do what it is that we’ve achieved now this season.

“It’s just so massive, we needed the time to build it,” Orsi continued. “One of the lead producers on it [Kevin de la Noy] worked on Titanic, so all that he brought in terms of acumen of what happened on the Titanic and how that entire experience is built, he brings that expertise to it.”

Additionally, we will see Rhaenyra do something more than languish in policy discussions while moving in on King’s Landing. Emma D’Arcy teased Gold Derby when quizzed on the subject of leaping into action: “I got what I wanted, folks.” Meanwhile, Ryan Condal declared, “[T]he goat is back.” (I’ll just leave that right here for speculation’s sake, but damn, it would be nice to see Stepstones Daemon again.)

The third season could also bring the Butcher’s Ball battle to the screen. If that happens, it might not end well for a despised character. Yay!

Cast

Returning cast members include the following:

– Emma D’Arcy (Rhaenyra Targaryen)
– Olivia Cooke (Alicent Hightower)
– Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen)
– Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen)
– Steve Toussaint (Corlys Valeryon)
– Phia Seban (Helaena Targaryen)
– Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II Targaryen)
– Addam of Hull (Clinton Liberty)
– Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria)
– Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower)
– Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen)
– Phoebe Campbell (Rhaena Targaryen)
– Matthew Needham (Larys Strong)
– Fabien Frankel (Criston Cole)
– Harry Collett (Jacaerys Velaryon)
– Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin)
– Freddie Fox (Gwayne Hightower)
– Tom Bennett (Ulf White)
– Hugh Hammer (Kieran New)

This season, we will also meet Daeron Targaryen (rumored to be portrayed by Harry Gilly), the youngest son of Alicent and Viserys.

And will Paddy Considine be back as full-fledged Zombie King Viserys? Please.

Release Date

Ryan Condal has confirmed that scripts are complete, and filming will resume “in a few weeks.” House of the Dragon will then return sometime in 2026.

Trailer

No footage has been released yet, but at least we can look forward to more of the below excellence in battle form:

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The keyword in the following sentences is “should.” Because Fridayy‘s recently released double album, Some Days I’m Good, Some Days I’m Not, should be destined for success — perhaps even Grammy-nominated success. A well-balanced odyssey that lives up to its title, the project declares itself a mixture of what should be hit records, like the Kehlani-featured “Saving My Love,” “One Call Away” with Chris Brown and “Baddest In The Room.” Yet, the meat and potatoes of the album are when it tugs on the emotional heartstrings in songs like “Make It Home,” “Without You,” and the gospel-influenced “Better Days.”

Hands down, though, the spiritual apex of the project arrives on “Proud of Me,” thanks to a guest verse for the ages from Meek Mill. In the court of public opinion, Meek hasn’t exactly had the grandest time as of late. The last year of his life involved his name thrown in and around the case against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Musically, his career wasn’t making much noise either. His X (formerly Twitter) account continued to be a vessel for his innermost thoughts broadcasted on a public platform. In many ways, a platform has become Meek’s worst enemy. Which is why his confessional on Fridayy’s album carries so much weight.

It seems unfair to write. At the very least, it feels like pigeonholing him into a box. Black art has long only been seen as grief-stricken and traumatic. Nonetheless, Meek’s finest form of rapping discusses the sights, experiences and losses he survived growing up on the streets of Philadelphia. For any knock about Meek as an artist, one thing he’s always excelled at is graphic street novels. He’s in a constant battle with survivor’s remorse. He’s a constant reminder of the long tentacles of the criminal justice system in America. And he embodies those decades and generations of emotions when they boil over.

Losing their father isn’t the only thread bonding Fridayy and Meek. It is one of the most, if not the most, personal connection, though. A tragic commonality in Meek and Fridayy’s life is that losing a father can cripple a young Black boy. Following his father’s death last year, Fridayy said “Proud of Me” was not just his favorite song but also therapy. And both artists connected over their mutual losses.

“I ain’t gonna lie. Meek stayed in the booth for 11 hours. He struggled for probably three [hours]. He just stayed in there,” Fridayy told journalist Keith Nelson Jr. “I’m talking he did not even drink water or nothing. He just stayed in there. We were there from 11:00 PM to 11:00 AM. When he finished that verse, all I wanted to do was cry the whole time.”

The death of Meek’s father isn’t breaking news. Last March, Meek took to social media to speak about his slain father, who was killed when he was only five years old in 1992.

“My dad died … doing an armed robbery,” Meek posted. “That made me wanna get rich, that was the get back. The person that killed my dad probably 60 … talking about dead people don’t hurt me … having all your homies killed behind your mistake you gotta drink lean constantly.”  

This verse was different. It wasn’t a rapper being introspective on a random feature over a random beat. It was a young boy who grew to be an imperfect man — and a face of the conversation surrounding criminal justice reform — exposing his soul about the single greatest tragedy in a life no stranger to tragedy. The tragedy would open up the gateway to so many Meek would face in his life.

“Hundred dollar nightmares turn to million dollar dreams/Ridin’ past the block where my dad got left on the scene/ Look at your lil’ boy now, we done turned into kinds/ S— turned me to a grown man ‘fore I was 17,” Meek rapped.

In May 2024, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded approximately 1.19 million children between the years 1999 and 2020 lost a parent to either drug overdose or gun violence. A stark 11% difference between the years was discovered, and Black youth were the ones overwhelmingly impacted. This was primarily due to fathers being killed. “[American] youth are at high and increasing risk of experiencing parental death by drugs or firearms,” the report stated. “Efforts to stem this problem should prioritize averting drug overdoses and firearm violence, especially among structurally marginalized groups.”

Meek lost his father long before the study kicked off, but he’s still one of those ghetto babies. A boy who somehow found a way to become a man despite all the hurdles in front of him. And a success story without its fair share of self-induced and societal-mandated pitfalls.

“Scared to show up at your grave ’cause I might try dig you out/ Like you know I did this s— for you, Meek pleaded with his father. Never heard you say it back, still be like, ‘I miss you too’/ And when I catch the n— that did this to you, he gettin’ sent to you.”

How often has America overlooked the cries besieging Black communities? How frequently has it labeled them as cries from the ghetto and from second-class citizens who would never graduate past the only circumstances they knew? The answer is so often that it defines large pockets of American history. Meek is a product of American disinvestment. He’s a project baby born during the years of Reaganomics, post-MOVE bombing and an involuntary soldier in the War on Drugs that began long before his birth.

There’s a generation of lost kids. A generation of lost souls running up on anyone deemed a lick or manageable threat. And a generation of Black boys and girls deemed irreparable due to being products of their environment. In one way or another, Meek checks off all those boxes.

There’s a visceral reaction that comes with Meek pouring his soul out when he spewed, “Skippin’ school, daddy dead, f— the principal/ She think I’m missin’ screws, when really, I’m just missing you!” In a world that’s as connected and disconnected as it’s ever been, Meek’s verse is a reminder of what music feels like when it doesn’t just touch the soul but wraps around it. His head-scratching social media antics, the salacious rumors involving his name — it all went mute for a sliver of time. Throughout his career, the spoils that came with the music have never been far from his lyrical boasts. The Audemar watches, the foreign cars, the estates in different cities. They’ve all become synonymous with Meek’s braggadocious personality. But the realization hit him by the end of his verse, where he’d already pleaded to relinquish every material item to reclaim time with loved ones like Robbie and Terry.

“Money rule the world, but you can’t pay God with it, Meek concluded, I’d spend it all just to get back my n—.“

Another artist or another song may be as vulnerable as Meek was, but in 2025, it’s difficult to envision someone being more than him. “Proud of Me” is a career-defining verse and a publicly personal moment an artist can have on wax. It’s a survivor-by-proxy of the gun violence the country has long refused to remedy. Real-life Black accounts from real-life Black communities are in critical platforms like this because real-life Black history and stories are seen as enemies of the state.

Meek Mill made his father immortal in “Proud of Me.” He became more than a nameless victim and a statistic. In the process, he reminded anyone who listened that, at his best, very few can create art from grief like Meek. As for what society did to make it so that Meek had plenty of pain to draw from, that’s an enormous responsibility and conversation that seems less and less likely to hold itself accountable by the day.

“Ball Up Top” is a weekly NBA video series where Andscape’s David Dennis Jr. talks about the hot topics in the league and pop culture with special guests and Andscape personalities.

In the debut episode, Dennis welcomes former NBA swingman Quentin Richardson to the show to give his thoughts on the Kevin Durant-Mike Budenholzer interaction (1:35); his most explosive run-in with a coach during his career (3:37); what’s wrong with his former team, the Phoenix Suns (6:25); who are the real contenders in the Western Conference (15:00); which teams Richardson played best against during his career (18:15); if the Los Angeles Lakers’ success is sustainable (19:10); if LeBron James is still the best player in the NBA (23:05); how seriously we should take the Golden State Warriors (25:20); Q’s NBA Finals prediction (27:54); his reaction to Bradley Beal’s foul on Anthony Edwards (28:59); Q’s “Welcome to the NBA” moment (30:46); the most intimidating guys in the NBA while Richardson played (32:10). David and Q wrap with their issues with the movie “Above the Rim” (34:00).

Episode 1, March 7, 2025
Host: David Dennis Jr.
Guest: Quentin Richardson

Our monthly series looks at the top releases from the best brands in athletic footwear. Whether you’re an avid sneakerhead or just looking for the perfect pair to complement your style, navigating the vast world of sneakers can be overwhelming. From understanding where to buy to decoding the latest trends, consider this your road map to finding the perfect pair.

For most of the country, March represents the changing of seasons from the harshness of winter to the warmth of spring. Flowers are starting to bloom, and temperatures are beginning to warm up to the point where the days are longer and more enjoyable. The world of sneakers represents that change as well. From Nike freshening up the linen to End Clothing getting us ready for wedding season, spring is on its way, and you’ll have plenty of footwear choices to enjoy all it has to offer.

The return of the ‘Flu Game’ 12s

Whether you believe the legend that Michael Jordan had the flu, the updated food poisoning narrative, or any other urban legends surrounding Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, one thing is sure: the black and red colorway of the Jordan 12 became a must-have. Dressed in a black leather upper with a red midsole, everything from the original 1997 release is here.

Release date: March 1

Retail: $210

Liberty London takes a floral approach

For those unfamiliar, Liberty London is a well-known, high-end department store based in the United Kingdom known for its floral patterns, and it has a history as far back as the 19th century. After releasing its first Adidas collab of the year in January, the lux retailer returns with a more subdued approach. A tan nubuck upper sits on top of a gum bottom, carrying up the shoe to form the midsole. Liberty London keeps the shoe’s minimalist approach intact by only featuring floral patterns on both the inner and outer three stripes and the shoe’s heel. Gold co-branding on the shoe’s tongue helps complete this simple but elegant design.

Release date: March 1

Retail: $160

Pharell beefs up the Adidas’ Superstar

It’s always a tricky task when someone chooses to update an iconic design. However, for the past decade, Pharell Williams and Adidas have provided us with multiple fresh takes on classic silhouettes like the Stan Smith and Samba. Williams’ latest work sees him giving the Superstar some minor changes. This version features a more chunky upper, likely influenced by the bulky aesthetic of early ’00s skate shoes. Bright pink and yellow laces, the white and black pairs, respectively, complete the early ‘00s callback as they remind people of a time when lace swaps were popular.

Release date: March 1

Retail: $200

Converse celebrates 80 years of Tom & Jerry

Tom and Jerry are the prime example of never-ending beef. Celebrating their 80th anniversary of causing chaos for one another, the pair take their antics to a new medium in collaboration with Converse. The Chuck Taylor All-Star and Chuck 70 highlight some of Tom and Jerry’s best or worst moments across the four-pair release. Tom and Jerry can be seen peeking over the midsoles on one pair of Chuck Taylor All-Star while another pair highlights the various animation styles the show used over the years. This collection is a must-have for millennials and older generations who grew up watching the pair cause havoc.

Release date: March 6

Retail: $80 – $100

Going “Grey”

These monthly rundowns typically highlight colorful collaborations and shoes produced in low quantities. The “Core Grey” New Balance 992 is the opposite of those characteristics. New Balance does a good job of rotating specific models into retail for a while, then rendering them to the archives later for years. That’s been the case for the 992, a prototypical GADA shoe admired by former Apple leader Steve Jobs for its comfort and utility. Anybody still hanging on to pairs from the previous 2020-2022 run should rejoice at the chance to re-up on a fresh pair.

Release date: March 6

Retail: $199

End Clothing crafted wedding shoes

For years, many sneakerheads have found a way to work in their love for sneakers on their wedding day. Retailer End Clothing aims to give us a more traditional option for that special day. Using the Adidas Japan and Superstar models, End takes cues from conventional bride and groom attire. The Japan is a straightforward tribute to the use of lace on a bride’s dress. The groom is given the Superstar in formal black leather with a black lace cover to give the shoe the appeal of a proper dress shoe.

Release date: March 7

Retail: $170 (Superstar), $140 (Japan)

De’Aaron Fox shows love to “Lexington”

Just in time for March Madness, Curry Brand delivers a “Lexington” colorway of the Fox 1 as a nod to the Kentucky Wildcats, the college hoops team of the model’s namesake, San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox. The upper is drenched in a rich shade of blue and features the school’s signature checkerboard pattern on the heel and a monochrome placement on the fox tail strap. It’s yet another dope color scheme for a new signature model that’s had several strong ones already.

Release date: March 7

Retail: $120

A Bathing Ape meets Crocs

If we’ve come to expect anything from Japanese brand A Bathing Ape, it’s to expect the unexpected regarding brands and collaborations. The unexpected is precisely what we have here with Bape and Crocs combining forces to drop a fresh take on Classic Clogs. Bape’s now iconic camouflage pattern appears as expected in the blue, green and pink colorways. Completing the Crocs experience is Bape-specific Jibbitz, including Baby Milo, Shark, and Tiger.

Release date: March 8

Retail: TBA

The return of a rare retro runner

Initially released in 1997, the “Signal Blue” version of the Nike Zoom Spiridon is a thrice-in-a-lifetime shoe. That may seem like hyperbole, but the last time we saw this OG colorway was in 2005. If they wait another 20 years, most people reading this will be too old to wear cool shoes. Former Nike designer Christian Tresser designed the Zoom Spiridon and the Air Max 97, and both running shoes still look far ahead of their time, emphasizing clean, flowing lines and eye-catching metallic materials.

Release date: March 13

Retail: $160

Nigel Sylvester keeps building “Brick by Brick”

BMX rider Nigel Sylvester and Jordan Brand received a ton of free promo after the new “Brick by Brick” colorway of the Air Jordan 4 headlined a highly publicized train heist of nearly $2 million Nike sneakers. Every social share and news report by major outlets It’s clear Jordan is building up Sylvester to be its next best hypeman and so far, the relationship has yielded multiple hits. A big part of the success comes through the use of colors, and this collab utilizes a mix of firewood orange, cinnabar and sail that nails the nickname.

Release date: March 14

Retail: $225

Another perfect pink pair

After spending more than two decades as an illusive grail that often required the rare combo of having enough money and knowing the right person to obtain a pair, Nike decided to rerelease the “Linen” Air Force Ones last June. Eight months later, the classic pair gets a refresh. Instead of using buttery soft leather across the shoe’s upper, textured canvas becomes the show’s star and gives things a casual feel that’s perfect for the spring. Everything else about the shoe stays faithful to the original, which should help this take reach the level that the original did more than two decades ago.

Release date: March 20

Retail: $130

Jae Tips stays ‘Busy’

No one person has managed to put an entire brand on their back quite like Bronx-born designer Jae Tips has done with Saucony. Tips continues to use models from Saucony’s past; after using the Matrix silhouette for his last collab, the Jazz 9 is the base for his latest. As we’ve come to expect, bold colors are the star of the shoe, as the shoe’s upper is a mix of blue, yellow, orange and pink. A bright red midsole adds to the collection of colors and immediately grabs your eyes.

Release date: March

Retail: TBA

Joe Freshgoods and New Balance’s relationship has ‘Aged Well’

We’ve highlighted before how New Balance has shed the label of being boring dad shoes and has become one of the marquee names for collaborations. Chicago’s Joe Freshgoods has been at the heart and center of things for the past few years. The latest collaboration from the pair shows that they appreciate how things have improved with time. The 992 arrives dressed in various shades of pink, brown and orange across the upper of the shoes, while the midsole takes on a more traditional two-tone approach that New Balance is known for, with pink and white giving way to a black outsole.

Release date: Feb.  28

Retail: $220

Union LA brings back a favorite

Frequent Jordan collaborator Union Los Angeles has made a name for themselves with their unique takes on Jordan silhouettes. Sneakerheads are still unsure how they feel about the Bephies Beauty Supply 1s. One of their more interesting concepts, the patchwork-inspired Jordan 1 released in 2018, was universally loved. The brand returns to that design idea by taking the heel collar from the Shadow colorway and stitching it on top of the Chicago colorway that features an aged midsole, creating a feel of a vintage thrift find.

Release date: Feb.  28

Retail: $200

Phoenix Suns rookie forward Ryan Dunn had a memorable off day on Wednesday watching his older brother, Justin, pitch in MLB spring training for the Chicago White Sox in Phoenix. Joining Ryan Dunn in the stands was Kevin Durant, a perennial NBA All-Star that he also now views as a mentor and big brother.

“Kevin coming to my brother’s game meant a lot,” Dunn told Andscape. “It shows how much he supports not only me, but my family. And it’s a good relationship that we have that he’s able to come and support one of my family members and with what he has going on. We’re all professional athletes and for [Durant] to be able to come see Justin’s game and be able to talk after was great and very cool.”

For Dunn, building a rapport with Durant so fast has been one of the highlights and most meaningful parts of his rookie season in Phoenix.

During the 2024 NBA draft, the Suns completed a trade with the Denver Nuggets that included acquiring the draft rights to Dunn, the 28th pick in the first round. The former University of Virginia star averaged 8.1 points and team-highs of 6.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks as a sophomore during the 2023-24 season. The Suns were interested in the 2023-24 Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America Team selection due to his exceptional defense.

When Dunn arrived in Phoenix, he was very knowledgeable about Durant, a two-time NBA champion, 15-time NBA All-Star and the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player. So, when Durant asked Dunn to join him in Los Angeles for offseason workouts before training camp, he quickly accepted the opportunity. During that time, Dunn had the challenge of playing Durant in 1-on-1 games. Dunn also credited Durant for instilling confidence in him that he was ready for the NBA.

“It happened with ‘K’ [Durant] first in the summer when I went to California to work out with him,” Dunn, 22, said. “We were playing ‘1s’ and he said, ‘We’re going to need you this year.’ ”

Now at 36 years old, Durant has naturally become a mentor for several young basketball stars. It was well-documented during the 2024 Olympics that Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards was most excited about playing on Team USA with Durant, and he was often alongside his childhood idol in France. Durant has also been mentoring heralded American prep prospect A.J. Dybantsa, who is a candidate to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.

While respectfully being called “Unc” and “OG” will take some getting used for Durant, he takes pride in being a mentor for young basketball stars.

“It is kind of cool to have those dudes watch me growing up and to admire my game, and respect my game, more than anything,” Durant said. “I’ve always wanted respect from NBA players from my work ethic and skills in general. To get that respect from the younger generation is humbling. I’m honored. I’m trying to do my part to give as much as I can and to be there as a brother as well…

“They call me Unc… OG. Ant [Edwards] is the one that goes too far with the OG, the Unc. But it’s all in love. I always appreciate being around younger talent in this league. I feed off them. We feed off of each other.”

During his youth, Durant said he looked up to NBA legends like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and the late Kobe Bryant. Durant also said that former NBA greats Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady had a major influence on his game as well. Durant said his youth basketball coaches often made him watch highlight videos of the aforementioned players to learn from their elite skillsets.

At 19 years old, Durant was on the USA Basketball Select team that helped the 2008 USA Olympic men’s senior basketball team prepare for the Beijing Olympics. Bryant, James and Anthony were on Team USA at the time, and looking back, Durant appreciated those three giving him words of wisdom in 2008. Durant has gone on to become a four-time Olympic gold medalist and USA Basketball’s all-time leader in points, scoring average, field goals made, 3-pointers made and free throws made.

“I had to study them as a kid, not just watch them for fun,” Durant said. “I had to emulate what they did or I would get in trouble with my coaches. I had to be at the standard that they held in the league. And when I saw them, I was at a loss for words. I just stayed quiet, listened and took in the moment. Not piss them off. Be a little brother.

“I always wanted to compete against them and thought that I could. To be in the same rooms with them at 19 on Team USA being around all those guys, I didn’t feel like I belonged. But they accepted and welcomed me with open arms.”

Durant entered Friday as the fifth-oldest active NBA player behind James, Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry and Mike Conley Jr. Tonight’s game against the Denver Nuggets on ESPN (10 p.m. ET) will be the 1,111th of Durant’s NBA career.

Durant has always had a goal to play 20 NBA seasons, which he would reach during the 2026-27 campaign. Even so, the two-time NBA Finals MVP told Andscape he has not decided how long he would like to play.

Durant says the key to his longevity has been “the recovery stuff.”

“I’m keeping my body loose and flexible,” Durant said. “Icing. Doing stuff you didn’t do at 20 and 22 because you can just get up and go. I warm up before I get out on the court. I do exercises before I do anything, which is the new norm for me. It’s been cool getting to know your body and your game as you get older…

“I feel like I’m in my 30s. Somedays you get out of the bed and you feel a little something. But my energy is still there. I feel good. I still feel like I can go out there and play 48 minutes and play efficient basketball. I feel great.”

For Dunn during his rookie season, every day around Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and all his veteran Suns teammates has been “surreal” and a masterclass. Having an NBA icon in Durant to ask questions daily has had special meaning for Dunn, especially since he is getting advice, encouragement, heartfelt responses and brotherhood in return.

“Being a rookie that can go up to him and ask him questions, work out with him and see how he takes approaches to the game both mentally and physically and being able to dissect a lot from him has been great,” Dunn said. “I’m trying to implement some of his stuff in my routine and just keep learning from him. Just be a sponge, soak up as much information as I can get. And the thing about Kevin is he’s not going to allow you to take a back seat. He wants you to be aggressive as well, to be confident in your ability and trust that you can make plays.

“He’s also telling me to not sit back and watch, and if I have something, go take it, be aggressive and be that guy. So that’s one of my brothers that I’ve built a great relationship with and I’m glad to have him as a vet of mine.”