There was a lot of excitement last month when SZA released her highly anticipated album SOS. Among viral hits such as “Kill Bill” and “Snooze,” “Blind” has taken off as one of the most popular songs among fans. In an effort to reward his fans, Leon Thomas was kind enough to offer a cover of the track over the weekend after revealing that he had co-written and co-produced the track with his mentor Babyface. As part of the new version, Thomas shows off his raw vocals and guitar skills as he sings about the lengths he is willing to go for what he loves as he sings:
There was no doubt I would do a cover of SZA’s track ‘Snooze’ from her upcoming album SOS, as this is the track that I co-produced with her. What an amazing experience it has been to see how it has been received by so many people! Make sure that you take a moment to stream my new single ‘Breaking Point’ on Spotify if you caught the vibe,” Thomas wrote on the social media site Instagram.
Last year, the New York-born recording artist made his solo recording debut as a recording artist by releasing the single “Love Jones” with the help of Ty Dolla $ign. He followed up that release with his follow-up “Breaking Point”, which was produced by Don Mills and Coleman, and which also features NBA superstar LeBron James along with another son of his, Bronny James, in Beats By Dre’s latest promotional video. In the past few years, Thomas has had a lot of success penning songs for some big names like SZA. He has received a lot of credit for writing tracks for Giveon’s Give or Take, Ariana Grande’s Positions, Drake’s Certified Lover Boy, and many others.
Yesterday (Dec. 21), WNBA star Brittney Griner used Instagram to pen an open letter to fans thanking them for their continued support. As previously reported, the Phoenix Mercury athlete was released from a Russian jail after serving ten months for assault and battery charges.
“I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who sent me messages of support while I was detained in Russia,” Brittney Griner wrote. “It was great to know that so many people were thinking of me and cheering me on.” Griner went on to say that the letters she received “kept me going and gave me hope.”
“Brittney Griner added, “I’m extremely grateful to be home and can’t wait to get back on the court.” The 25-year-old also thanked the U.S. State Department, as well as the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, for their help in getting her released from custody. This is not the first time Griner has faced legal trouble; in 2013, she was arrested on suspicion of assault after a domestic dispute with then-fiancée Glory Johnson. The charges were later dropped.
On Monday, December 19th, Skillibeng decided to bless his fans with not just one, but two new songs so they could enjoy them during the holiday season. It can be seen in both singles, titled “More Fire” and “Deja Vu,” that beautiful Black women are put at the center of the visuals to showcase what they are capable of.
“More Fire” is a video released by Jenzar in support of the song and it opens with a shot of Skillibeng walking his dog near a house, while two women sunbathe in front of it. After the Jamaican star has driven an off-road vehicle across the flattened landscape, he delivers a set of rhymes that are made only for adults and suitable for both dance floor and bedroom settings in the following manner:
“Deja Vu” maintains the same theme regarding the subject matter within the film. For example, shots throughout the film include shots of women enjoying the beach and other nearby locations. While Skillibeng is nowhere to be seen, his words are certainly audible over the scenes witnessed in RUPPI’s effort, despite the fact that he is not onscreen.
Leon Thomas released his latest album (Dec. 12), “Breaking Point.” It is also worth noting that the new release was co-produced by Coleman and Don Mills, and has also been included in the latest Beats By Dre advertisement starring NBA legend LeBron James and his son Bronny James. Throughout the song, the Grammy-nominated artist sings about trying his best to salvage a fading relationship:
“Breaking Point” takes us back to Thomas’ previous single, “Love Jones” from earlier this year, a collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign. Aside from his own releases, Leon Thomas is also featured on a number of recent releases, such as “Lord Knows” by Steelo and “to get home” by Phony Ppl.
According to a previous interview with the Brooklyn-born artist Leon Thomas, in terms of success he puts a lot more emphasis on impact over tangible accolades, and in the past he has shared this view with a variety of media outlets. “My definition of success is being able to actually be able to reach genuine connections with people who care about music as much as I do,” he told us. “It’s true that numbers look positive, and we strive for constant improvement, but I feel that it takes a very long time to develop a brand that really breaks with the old models, which have been around for a very long time. It’s been a very relaxing and patient few weeks for me, and now I am ready to proceed brick by brick.”
It didn’t take long for Brittney Griner to hit the basketball court after returning to the United States. According to ESPN, Brittney Griner arrived at Fort Sam in Houston on Tuesday and immediately went to a local basketball court to play. This is the first time Griner has played basketball since she was imprisoned in Russia for over 9 months.
She was seen shooting hoops and working on her game just hours after her return. This comes as a relief to many who were concerned about Griner’s well-being after she was sentenced to two years in a Russian prison following a fight with another woman. “It feels good to be back home and able to play basketball again,” Griner told ESPN. “I’m just happy to be out here.” Brittney Griner said in a recent interview.
But thanks to some quick work by the U.S. State Department, she was released and able to return home. Now that she’s back, it will be interesting to see how Griner fares in the WNBA this season. She’s already one of the league’s best players, but this ordeal will no doubt be a distraction. Either way, it’s good to see her back on the court and doing what she loves.
It’s great to see Brittney Griner doing what she loves and staying positive despite everything she’s been through. We’re wishing her all the best as she continues to recover from this ordeal.
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