The Pharaoh Chronicle
Both of those guys are a blessing to the game.”
By now, Freddie Gibbs‘ interview with Bootleg Kev may very well be known as the incidental spark to the hopefully unending cancellation of Complex personality, DJ Akademiks. But the bulk of the chat comprises hot-takes on current basketball and rap royalty and side-by-side analysis of working with two of hip-hop’s most revered producers.
Though it was hard to pry him out of hoop talk — weighing in on the Jordan vs. James debate and putting forth his own analysis of the NBA’s all-time scoring greats — Gibbs eventually pivoted focus to his own sport and the supporting cast of producers that have tested his ability. As the only rapper on record to release projects produced entirely by Madlib(Bandana) and Alchemist (Alfredo,)respectively, in a calendar year, the Gibbs spoke to his relationship with the legendary loopers. “Both of these motherfuckers are top echelon producers,” Gibbs says. He adds, “My rapping skill got better from going to rap school with these two guys. They made me a better rapper.” Gibbs goes on to describe the trio as a family, looking up to them as guiding influences in his ascension.
Before moving on to more topical issues (snitching a la 6ix9ine, Griselda’s unlikely come-up, upcoming acting gigs, and more,) Kev, of course, bridges the gap between the sports, asking Gibbs for a list of (living) MCs to accompany him in a starting five. The Gary, IN rapper quickly assembles his rap game avengers, naming Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Drake, and Black Thought, to the squad with Killer Mike and Benny The Butcher appointed as honorary sixth men.
Elsewhere in the chat, Gibbs discusses his relationships with NBA and rap vets, abandoning a label deal, and, as many of you know, the take on Jeezy’s album that sent Akademiks into a (very enjoyable) tailspin.
You can watch Freddie Gibbs’ full interview with Bootleg Kev above. Alfredo, his new album with Alchemist, is out now via ESGN/ALC/EMPIRE.
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Method Man discussed upcoming projects and more on Talib Kweli’s “People’s Party.”
Recently, Method Man appeared as the latest guest on Talib Kweli‘s People’s Party podcast. The Wu-Tang member discussed life in quarantine, the decision to cast Dave East as him in the group’s Hulu series, and more. Stream the full interview below.
Towards the end of the interview, Talib asked Meth about upcoming projects. One will pay homage to the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Mobb Deep‘s Prodigy.
“Me and Havoc did an album together,” he said with a grin. “Dirty P. [We’re] taking on [Ol] Dirty’s name and Prodigy’s name. Thats pretty much done, we’re trying to think of a single to put out first.”
The Staten Island MC also revealed an upcoming concept album with Rockwilder that may draw some interest. Meth plans to remake iconic rap classics from Boogie Down Productions and Ultramagnetic MCs. “Me and Rockwilder are trying to put together an EP of some of my favorite hop-hop joints from back in the day,” he continued. “I’m Still Number One, MC Ultramagnetic.”
Additionally, Meth says he’s in the process of completing Meth Lab 3. He released the original in August 2015, and the second chapter in December 2018. The EP with Rockwilder has yet to be titled. Stay tuned for further updates on the project.
In addition to these topics, Method Man spoke about being one of the few rappers to collaborate with both the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. He corroborated previous accounts of the origins of Tupac’s “Got My Mind Made Up,” and also told a hilarious story about the first time he met Tupac in Los Angeles at the height of the East Coast-West Coast beef.
CORONAVIRUS
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U.S. Coronavirus Death Toll Nears 100,000 as South American Cases Surge
Disney details some reopening plans; Fauci urges caution on political-convention planning
The U.S. death toll from the new coronavirus pandemic climbed closer to 100,000, as rising infections in South America placed the Americas firmly at the center of the global pandemic.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases exceeded 5.62 million, with the U.S. making up 1.68 million of those, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. death toll topped 99,000, while more than 351,000 people world-wide have died from Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
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While the number of new cases slows in some parts of the U.S., a surge in infections in South America is causing alarm. In the 24 hours ended Tuesday evening, Brazil reported more virus-related deaths in one day than the U.S.
Carissa Etienne, director of the Washington-based Pan American Health Organization, said the Americas have become the new center of the coronavirus pandemic, with more than 2.4 million cases and more than 143,000 deaths.
“We are particularly concerned that the number of new cases reported last week in Brazil was the highest for a seven-day period, since the outbreak began. Both Peru and Chile are also reporting a high incidence,” she said, warning that this isn’t the time to relax restrictions or scale back preventive strategies for most countries in the region.
In the U.S., reopening plans are moving forward in many parts of the country.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is set to meet with President Trump Wednesday at the White House to discuss federal funding to help the state. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city could start reopening in the first or second week of June. Plans are under way to determine how to achieve social distancing on public transportation, he said.
Walt Disney Co. said it planned to begin reopening its Disney World theme park at reduced capacity in mid-July. Customers and staff will be required to wear masks, and attendees will have to complete temperature checks before entering the Orlando, Fla., park.
SeaWorld has proposed reopening its Orlando-based parks on June 11, while Six Flags Entertainment Corp. said it would reopen its first amusement-park June 5, with capacity restrictions. Water parks in Texas could reopen as soon as Friday with 25% capacity, Gov. Greg Abbott said.
Other large summer gatherings remain in question. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert, urged caution as Republicans and Democrats plan their August conventions. Officials should “reserve judgment” on going ahead until they have a better handle on whether numbers of new cases and hospitalizations are significantly decreasing, Dr. Fauci said Wednesday.
As the country re-emerges from monthslong shutdowns, the emotional toll of the pandemic is becoming clearer. A spike in calls to crisis lines and predictions of increased suicides and drug overdoses have prompted lawmakers to call for more money for mental-health screenings and response.nner to revive its economy months ahead of others.
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Hydroxychloroquine isn’t an effective treatment for Covid-19, Dr. Fauci said.
“I’m not so sure it should be banned, but clearly the scientific data is really quite evident now about the lack of efficacy for it,” he said during a CNN interview, when asked whether the U.S. should ban the drug for treating Covid-19, as France recently did.
President Trump has frequently touted the antimalarial drug as prevention for the virus, and said last week he was taking it.
The Food and Drug Administration warned last month that the drug was linked to serious heart problems and should only be used on hospitalized patients or as part of clinical trials.
The fallout from the pandemic has weighed heavily on governments and businesses around the globe, as they look to mitigate the economic pain. Singapore, the worst-hit nation in Southeast Asia with more than 32,000 confirmed infections, unveiled a fourth stimulus package. And the European Union set out a €750 billion ($824 billion) coronavirus recovery plan and €1.1 trillion budget proposal to lift the region from its economic slump.
France prepared for the second phase of its lockdown relaxation from June 2, with the sports ministry working on a plan for a limited reopening of swimming pools, with strictly enforced hygiene rules. Authorities will open around 20 pools across the country at the end of next week. If all goes well, others could reopen later.
There has been no sign of a pickup in the epidemic since France started loosening lockdown rules more than two weeks ago.
In Israel, restaurants, bars, hotels and swimming pools reopened Wednesday after two months of closure. Museums and tourist attractions will also be allowed to reopen, providing visitors adhere to social distancing and wear masks.
“We want to make your lives easier, to allow you to go out and get some air, to go back to routine as much as possible, to drink a cup of coffee, and to have a beer as well,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
In Saudi Arabia, the government said public- and private-sector employees would gradually return to work Sunday and scale up to full capacity within two weeks.
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It directed mosques, which are set to reopen from next week for the five daily prayers and Friday congregations, to restrict the time worshipers spend inside and ensure they remain spaced apart while praying.
Both Dubai, the Gulf region’s commercial and tourism hub, and Oman will also require 50% of government employees to return to work starting Sunday. Oman on Friday will also end measures in place for more than seven weeks barring movement in and out of Muscat province, where the capital is located.
In Asia, some countries have had to readjust their reopening strategies to contain a resurgence of infections.
South Korea reported 40 new infections, the biggest daily increase in 49 days, as more than two million people headed back to school Wednesday as part of a phased reopening. The city of Bucheon, outside of Seoul, has reintroduced social-distancing measures through June 2 after a new cluster of infections at a distribution center resulted in at least 36 new cases. The new restrictions have delayed a return to school for many students in the city and forced the closing of sports facilities.
In India, states including Bihar in the eastern part of the country and Rajasthan in the northwest have reported an increase in the number of new cases, as migrant workers return home from cities. India reported 6,387 new infections Wednesday as the total number of confirmed cases topped 150,000, with 4,337 people dead, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.
In China, where the first cases of the coronavirus were detected late last year, life has largely returned to normal in recent weeks. On Wednesday, the National Health Commission reported one new infection in a person who recently returned from abroad, down from seven a day earlier. But an emergence of dozens of new infections around a northeastern Chinese city has resulted in a renewed lockdown in the area since last week.
Write to Talal Ansari at Talal.Ansari@wsj.com and Felicia Schwartz at Felicia.Schwartz@wsj.com
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