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Pablo Torre: "So, I just got to jump in here to say that about three months ago, we got a tip that kind of reminded me of the tip we got previously about the 2010 New York Knicks recruitment video for LeBron James—which we uncovered here at Pablo Torre Finds Out. You know, the whole Sopranos reunion thing." "But this tip—the new tip—was that the Wu-Tang Clan had, in fact, been paid by the same organization, James Dolan’s Knicks, for the NBA free agency window of 2019. And what we were told was that the Knicks paid the Wu-Tang Clan to write, record, and film an original song to woo Kevin Durant. And after asking our sources to comb through their phones and their hard drives—all of us racing to do this ahead of our interview with Method Man, who was involved in this song—we finally found it, a few hours actually after Meth walked out of the studio.
Thirty years ago, SLAM was unlike anything in modern journalism. It didn’t play by traditional rules. Profanity in publication was not off-limits. The writers and editors didn’t pretend to be impartial. “‘Outcast’ is a good word for us,” said Tony Gervino, the magazine’s first editor-in-chief who now works at Tidal as executive vice president and editor-in-chief. SLAM was part of a culture shift that personified a time when the NBA was changing, a time when hip-hop began crafting the style of many players. The shorts were longer and baggier. Pregame music playlists were more likely to include Wu-Tang Clan or Snoop Dogg instead of R&B crooners like Jeffrey Osborne or Luther Vandross. Tattoos became as common as high-top shoes.
Wu-Tang is for the children and the Knicks. Shaolin’s Finest has collaborated on ‘Wu York Knicks’ merchandise that will be released later this month, as part of the NBA Remix campaign from Bleacher Report and Mitchell & Ness. The gear includes a Knicks hoodie, jersey, T-shirt and hat with the Wu-Tang Clan logo.
On if there’s something surprising about him, like, he enjoys classical music: LeBron: You know what’s funny that you say that, I love classical music. If you happen to pull up to the side of me when I’m not in the dark, dark tint car, you could catch me at a (traffic) light listening to some old Beethoven or Mozart … (but before the game) I’m listening to something to get the blood flowing a little more, for sure. It changes. I’m listening to a lot of hardcore hip hop. Either Wu Tang, or some early DMX, some N.W.A. or even Eminem when he was doing his thing at a high level. I tap into a whole other mode … I’m not the father at home with the kids LeBron when I tap into that mode. I’m like, get the hell of my way, I’m ready for war.
Shaquille O'Neal: I can say I’ve made music with Erick Sermon, Redman, Jay Z, Wu-Tang, Nas, Biggie, Fat Joe, Big Pun, DJ Quik, Snoop, the Fu-Schnickens, Heavy D, Michael Jackson, George Clinton, and Roger Troutman. That’s a hell of a discography. Like I said before, hip-hop made me who I am. So whether Shaq Diesel went platinum, gold, or wood, once I got in the studio with my favorite artists and put those songs together, I knew I’d made it. I knew I earned their respect. I want to tell everyone who took part in the making of Shaq Diesel: Thank you.
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Jeff Wade: Love that @Dirk Nowitzki just told folks he's more of a Wu-Tang guy #GhostFaceDrillah