#FreshStyleFits: Jordan 11 Retro Backpack – October 23, 2015

Nike released the Jordan 11 Retro Backpack at the tail end of 2014 to coincide with the re-release of the Jordan 11 sneaker. The Backpack has the sneaker attached to the bottom. It’s a pretty unique design. They released two color ways: Black / Red “Bred” for Jordan’s Chicago Bulls theme and the Carolina Blue / White in Jordan’s UNC alma mater.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

The Backpack wasn’t mass delivered to retail shelves and most casual fans missed the release with Nike.com selling out of the product in a hurry (surprise, surprise). I wore the Carolina Blue / White color way last week to an event and was asked several times where to get them.

The best answer I have right now is to search secondary sites like eBay or Amazon. Upon quick glance, both have limited quantities selling between $229 and $300. The bag originally retailed right at $199 so the markup isn’t astronomical given how quickly the bag disappeared from traditional retail outlets. Add it to the holiday Wish List.

UPDATE 12/25/15: After inquiring about the backpack at the Elite Basketball Academy Top 40 Camp, Hannah Fuller then received it as a Christmas present. Here she is on Christmas morning:

Hannah-Fuller-Jordan-Bag

Yesterday's Home: #EBATop40 Pantone Jordan 11's & Retro Backpack | #SoleFlow Cred: Ty Freeman | #AnyGymIsHome

A photo posted by BrandonClayPSB (@brandonclaypsb) on

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

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#iTunesSounds: Lady Antebellum – “Golden” – October 23, 2015

Since getting together in 2006, Lady Antebellum has become arguably the most popular mainstream country group in the U.S. with crossover appeal worldwide. I have multiple albums and will review more of their work over time. Let’s start with the 2013 studio CD release “Golden.” While it doesn’t have the depth to me of their “Own The Night” output, it still has several songs that are in my iTunes rotation two years later.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

My Fantastic Four tracks off of Golden are actually in order on the CD from tracks 8 through 11:

8) “Golden”

BREAKDOWN: The title track off the album talks about a love that is so special that he doesn’t want to miss a single moment. He knew from the day that she walked into his life that she was a proverbial light shining down on his life.

9) Long Teenage Goodbye

BREAKDOWN: This one comes from the perspective of a teenager couple in the summer. Walks on the beach, a young love that goes wherever the wind blows all in a time that never comes back again.

10) “All for Love”

BREAKDOWN: The first verse ends with his love just up and walked away after saying she loved him. The second verse is her response with a question “what was I supposed to do? Falling out can be so cruel/Everything we want is what we used to be, I can’t help these feelings inside of me.”

11) “Better Man”

BREAKDOWN: In a lot of ways, this is a continuation of the “Golden” theme. He paints of vivid picture of the first time he met his current lady and how the connection was instant. He then goes on to tell us that loving her has made him a better person all around. It’s a storybook tale of love in its’ purest essence. Boy Meets Girl. They grow in love together.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

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#EntertainmentPSB: The Transition from PS3 to PS4 – October 23, 2015

Like most adults, I don’t get to play video games nearly as much as I did when I was younger. That said, I had to go ahead and scoop the Sony Playstation 4 500 GB console recently. I’ve been a Playstation gamer since the first version and decided to stick with them on this latest purchase. If you haven’t made the switch, go ahead and do that ASAP. I picked up the all white console with the gold engraving that comes with the game Destiny. While I won’t play that game, the console and white Dual Shock controller that comes with are SMOOTH.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

SIDENOTE: I’ll review both NBA2K16 and Madden16 in separate pieces in the near future.

The biggest difference in upgrading the console is the graphics that come along with the PS4. I was able to see the virtual sweat dripping down the players right away. Also the increased room for the games to become “movie like” was instantly impressive. Spike Lee has a full movie as a part of the NBA2K16 franchise this season.

PARTING THOUGHT: As the holidays approach, do yourself a favor and regardless of age put one of these on your Christmas List (doesn’t have to be the white one).

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

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#ProSportsChop: Decade of the Point Guard – October 22, 2015

Every NBA generation gives us a wealth of depth at a certain position. In the 1990‘s, it was the Shooting Guard’s that ruled the league. Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Steve Smith and the list can go on and on. In the 2000’s, it was the Power Forward position that ruled the Association. Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Amare Stoudemire were just a few of the great Power Forwards of the generation.

By: Keil Moore @KeilMoorePSB with commentary from Brandon Clay @bballplusmusic

This decade is all about Point Guard play. Right now, the position is without a doubt he deepest in the NBA and here is a look at the top five playing the position to date.

Here is my list of the Fab Five right now with Brandon Clay’s commentary on each:

1) Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

MOORE: While one could make an argument for Chris Paul here. Curry is on top of the Basketball world right now. League MVP, NBA Championship and even his daughter has ridden the “Curry Wave” to stardom. With Curry’s recent success, it is hard to not give him the top spot.
More on Riley Curry

CLAY: What a run over the past two years for Steph. From a 5 year, $55 million extension guard to the future starting point guard for the US National Team and NBA MVP.
SIDENOTE: Riley Curry is the cutest kid in the game since Chris Paul’s son made “the Blake Face.”

2) Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

MOORE: Paul is the definition of the point guard position. Pass first, lead second, pressure the basketball, and score when needed. In my humble opinion, there isn’t a better point guard in basketball. There also might not be a better leader in basketball.

CLAY: He’s successfully made the Clippers the primary team inside Staples Center which also plays host to the Lakers. That said, if Paul plans on winning a title in LA he has to find a way to be more impactful than Curry and the guy below him again this season.

3) Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

MOORE: Westbrook was phenomenal last season. He put up video game numbers almost all season long. That said, Westbrook’s health issues keep him out of consideration for the top two spots here.

CLAY: What Westbrook did sans Kevin Durant last season was phenomenal and deserves praise. From the national Mountain Dew Kickstart campaign to the Jordan Brand signature lifestyle shoe, marketers and fans nationwide have taken notice.

4) Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

MOORE: Irving might be the most creative ball handler in the NBA right now. He is a dynamic athlete and brings flair to the point guard position. Like Westbrook, his health is also an issue. The best example of this is the 2015 NBA Finals.

CLAY: Irving could miss a chunk of time early in the season recovering from the season-ending knee injury Keil alluded to above. That said, Irving is the premier point guard in the Eastern Conference though I feel like John Wall is on his heels.

5) John Wall, Washington Wizards

MOORE: Clay’s favorite team, Atlanta Hawks, lucked out last season when Wall hurt his hand during the series against them. A healthy Wall might have propelled the Wizards into the Eastern Conference Finals. Wall is as explosive as any guard on this list and in my opinion Wall has been the victim of some tough USA Basketball National Team cuts.

CLAY: Wall is playing great basketball. He’s come a long way since his days of shooting less than 10 percent from beyond the arc during his rookie season.
SIDENOTE: Even though he’s on the verge of being an established veteran, I’d be remiss if I forgot to mention Jeff Teague. He’s easy to overlook in a league full of top shelf guards but Teague did lead the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals last season.

Who Is Next?

D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers – I am buying his stock. He showed himself as an excellent passer and a confident young player. Plus having Kobe Bryant as a mentor is always a nice way to start off a career.

Elfrid Payton, Orlando Magic – In Orlando, Payton has a chance to grow alongside of the best young players in the league. He has to improve as a shooter but everything else is there.

Dante Exum, Utah Jazz – Exum is out this year due to an ACL tear. My extensive NBA League Pass research showed that while Exum struggled shooting the ball last year. He became a reliable starting point guard for Utah towards the end of the season. I’m “ALL IN” on Exum.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

Keil Moore Keil Moore is a Philadelphia sports fan who loves the Eagles, 76ers and Phillies. He’s the go-to NBA League Pass subscriber in the PSBPopCulture.com. Moore will contribute his expertise to multiple categories on the site. He is the owner of Keil Moore Basketball, Inc. You can follow him on Twitter @KeilMoorePSB.

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#iTunesSounds: Drake – “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late” – October 22, 2015

I realize this Drake album may not be as popular as many of his previous album releases. Plus his recent beef with Meek Mill overshadowed this particular work. That said there are a few of the tracks I have on CONSTANT repeat in my Apple Music rotation.

By: Jonathan Hemingway @JLHemingwayPSB

Here’s my Fab Five with my favorite lines:

1) No Tellin’

“Please do not speak to me like I’m that Drake from four years ago
. I’m at a higher place.”

…and a second line just for my guy Scott Johnson

“I gotta keep watchin’ for oppers cause anything’s possible, yeah
There’s no code of ethics out here, anyone will take shots at you, yeah”

2) Star67

“Got my foot on the ‘Cedes Benz pedal
/Doin’ 90 on the bridge like, ‘brotha you already know’”

3) Preach

I like this song mainly because he collaborates with “PARTYNEXTDOOR.” I became a fan of these guys because of the Instagram work of Retrospectivetrill_OG.

They do some funny stuff with the song “Recognize” Check this post out:

When you chilling at your homies house and his mom start spazzing 😂😶✌️ #nileseyyniles

A video posted by Nileseyy Niless (@retrospectivetrill_og) on

4) Know Yourself

I like how Drake is using the beat switch seamlessly these days.

“Running through the 6 with my woes. You know how that stuff goes.” – Reminds me of my days with the original Steve Nash aka Daniel Vo. @chiefofnbp

5) Jungle

Maybe I’ve gone soft. I’m married now, a daughter in the house. This song really resonates with me these days

“She forgave me for everything, this is a forever thing
/Hate that I treated like it’s a whatever thing/
Trust me girl, this is everything to me”

HEMI-HEAD-SHOTJonathan Hemingway is a Chicago sports fan who reps the Bears, Bulls and Cubs. He’s also a diehard NFL Sunday Ticket subscriber. Like Clay, Hemingway’s music taste are wide-ranged and depend on the day. He is also a major part of PeachStateBasketball.com wearing multiple hats with the title of Director of Domestic Scouting and owning CoachHemi.com.

You can follow him on Twitter @JLHemingwayPSB

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#ProSportsChop: Top 5 NFL’s QB Right Now – October 20, 2015

I am on record as saying that the position of Quarterback is the most difficult position to master of all of sports. It is often impossible to predict the success of quarterbacks from college to the NFL. There is so much more involved than athleticism or arm strength. I often engage in lively debates in our PSBPopCulture.com group chat about the better QB’s in the league (which never included Tim Tebow).

By: Jonathan Hemingway @JLHemingwayPSB with commentary from Brandon Clay @bballplusmusic

Even quarterbacks who we believed to be sure-fire ELITE QBs this year are struggling. Look at Peyton Manning – his defense has carried the Broncos this year. Drew Brees has struggled to find his rhythm without Jimmy Graham. Even Andrew Luck has struggled with both injury and production!

Here is my list of the five best right now with Brandon Clay’s commentary on each:

CLAY: Before we start, do you have to keep reminding Keil Moore that his beloved Florida Gator Tim Tebow isn’t currently in the NFL? Come on Hemingway.

1) Tom Brady, New England Patriots

HEMINGWAY: Say what you want about the Patriots, but Brady is still the gold-standard. No one out-smarts these guys. Brady has laser focus that we have not seen in professional sports in years.

CLAY: Facts. Only. ACL Tear – No problem. Deflategate – No problem. Winner.

2) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

HEMINGWAY: This guy is terrific. Laser arm. Great athlete. His best attribute this year is to make plays even when the pocket collapses. His wideouts have been great even with Jordy Nelson being injured this year.

CLAY: Rodgers confidence is the steam that powers the Green (and Yellow). He plays with a chip on his shoulder despite all the success. No Nelson, insert James Jones and roll on to victory. At times, it seems that Rodgers still visualizes that 2005 NFL Draft night when he was selected 25th nightly.

3) Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

HEMINGWAY: I became a Newton fan this year when I drafted him in my dynasty-league (I said dynasty, not keeper. That is another blog post for another time). You have to give Cam a lot of credit. His best WR, Kelvin Benjamin, went down in the preseason. No problem though, 5-0 for Newton and the Panthers.

CLAY: Despite Newton being a NFC South rival to my Falcons, I respect his play so far. He’s using Greg Olsen, his tight end, as a primary target. In addition to Olsen, Newton is leading the team with three rushing TD’s as well.

4) Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

HEMINGWAY: Atlanta people never seem to be happy with this guy. He is not flashy and has not won the big game (yet). But the fact is that he puts up big numbers and the Falcons are 5-1. He is as talented as they come in the NFL. This year is big for him to crack the conversation of the ELITE.

CLAY: Hold on now Jon. Atlanta people (myself included) respect Ryan. We also know his salary eats up a considerable amount of the financial cap. So far this season, Ryan is earning his pay with Julio Jones cashing in on Ryan’s accuracy. “Matty Ice” should have a chance to earn postseason stripes this winter.

5) Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals

HEMINGWAY: Casual NFL observers may be surprised to see Palmer’s name on this list. Fact is that if Palmer had not been injured last year, the Cardinals may have challenged the Seahawks as the best team in the NFC. The veteran puts up big numbers week in and week out and he has some of the best wide receivers in the game.

CLAY: Agree 100%. Palmer picked up right where he left off. After two ACL surgeries, he’s throwing the ball as well as I can remember. In the process, Larry Fitzgerald looks like an All-Pro receiver once again.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. With a degree from Georgia Southern in Sport Marketing, he keeps an eye of marketing trends in the entertainment field. Clay’s full-time position is serving as the Owner of PeachStateBasketball.com.

You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

HEMI-HEAD-SHOTJonathan Hemingway is a Chicago sports fan who reps the Bears, Bulls and Cubs. He’s also a diehard NFL Sunday Ticket subscriber. Like Clay, Hemingway’s music taste are wide-ranged and depend on the day. He is also a major part of PeachStateBasketball.com wearing multiple hats with the title of Director of Domestic Scouting and owning CoachHemi.com.

You can follow him on Twitter @JLHemingwayPSB

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#FreshStyleFits: Embellish NYC Jeans – October 20, 2015

Embellish denim is an up and coming NYC based label that is bringing top-quality distressed denim to streetwear enthusiasts. Motorcycle style stitching and heavily distressed jeans have been popularized by high-fashion labels all over the world. Notably these styles have been worn by rockstars, street style icons and celebs like Kanye West, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna and more, but the price tag of most of these jeans have kept them out of the hands of the mass public.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

I was actually introduced to the brand through an Instagram post that I came across from Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics guard).

After doing some research, the combination of the quality, style and pricing was right on point. I ordered multiple pair with varying color schemes and styles. They were delivered within a week and minus being a little long (you can only order by waist size not length), they were good to go. I’ve rocked them at Lenox Mall as well as to meetings with a blazer, a tie and hard bottom dress shoes.

Here’s the outfit I chose to wear with a pair of Embellish jeans for a meeting with WBCA Executive Director, Danielle Donehew:

By: Jordan Davis @JDavisPSB

Brandon actually sent me a message last month saying “you gotta see these jeans, young fella.”

I thought they were clean so I just picked up my first two pair this past weekend after I got my check from the skate shop I work at. I haven’t even gotten to wear them out in public yet but it’s coming soon. I like that they’re different from what my roommates or anyone else on campus has on right now. I’ll let you all know the response I get.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

J-Davis-PSBPopCulture Jordan Davis is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com with a unique blend of #iTunesSounds & #PSBPopCulture reviews. Davis has been dropping jewels in both areas since arriving here in 1995. He is currently a student at Kennesaw State, a Social Media Intern with PeachStateBasketball.com and is well on his way to being the youngest in charge sooner than later.

You can follow him on Twitter @JDavisPSB.

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#iTunesSounds – James Bay – “Need the Sun to Break” – October 20, 2015

James Bay is an emerging artist from England. The 25-year old has a number of EP’s out and his “Chaos and the Calm” album released earlier this year rose to No. 25 on the U.S. Billboard Charts.

NOTE: I came across Bay through an assist from Riley Chlupacek. Thanks Riley.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

“Need the Sun to Break” is my go-to song on the album. Here’s why:

Bay has a very distinctive sound to match the style of music that he plays. On this track, he’s struggling to deal with a love lost. Bay can’t see the sun without the love he sings about on the track.

“Been in the dark for weeks and I realized you’re all I need, I hope I’m not too late.”

LISTEN TO: “Need the Sun to Break” by James Bay

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his #iTunesSounds reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

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#iTunesSounds – Alessia Cara – “Four Pink Walls” – October 20, 2015

On her debut five-track EP titled “Four Pink Walls,” Alessia Cara came out of the box swinging lyrically. She caught my attention with a song playing on Sirius XM during a trip to Seattle in late-August. Cara’s smooth vocals mixed with quality production set the stage for a debut album that should arrive sooner than later.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

Here are my two favorite tracks from the EP:

1) “Here”

BREAKDOWN: The song has been a major hit for the 19-year old Canadian singer. It’s charted as high as No. 20 on the Billboard ladder. Cara sings an easy relatable story about attending a party with her friends but wanting to just chill somewhere else.

2) “Four Pink Walls”

BREAKDOWN: The title track off of the album has all the makings of a follow up single to “Here.” An uptempo beat with some bounce gives Cara a chance to let her voice dance on rhythm with a cadence that floats between singing and almost rapping parts of the song.

FINAL GRADE: B

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his #iTunesSounds reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

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#iTunesSounds – Bryson Tiller – “TRAPSOUL” – October 19, 2015

Bryson Tiller came out blazing on his first album titled “Trapsoul.” The 14-track output is a nice mix of uptempo songs and more traditional R&B. It’s a must have for fans of the genre as Tiller establishes himself as one who we’ll keep an eye on over the next 12 months.

By: Brandon Clay @BBallPlusMusic

Here are my five favorite tracks from the album:

1) “Exchange”

BREAKDOWN: Tiller samples the “Shawty Swing My Way” beat from the 90’s and delivers a homerun in the process. I expect this one to hit airwaves soon.

2) “Don’t”

BREAKDOWN: First single off the album to touch the airwaves has been on fire. Slow tempo, Tiller’s voice carries the track.

3) “Sorry Not Sorry”

BREAKDOWN: The song starts with a mean “Street Fighter” drop that the most hardcore video game fans have to appreciate. Tiller goes on to show the 502 love (as he does throughout the album) while explaining that he’s not the one for his ex-girl.

Listen to more about this topic on the PSBPopCulture.com Report at the 5:30 min mark:

4) “Been That Way”

BREAKDOWN: Tiller addresses the rift between him and his girl. There’s love there but a combination of time, money and success has taken it’s toll on the relationship.

5) “Right My Wrongs”

BREAKDOWN: The album’s final track gives Tiller a chance to display his vocals with a soft track in the background. For an album where the beats assist his voice much of the way, Right My Wrongs is very much the opposite and it works for him.

Honorable Mention: “502 Come Up”

BREAKDOWN: In an ode to his Louisville area code, Tiller brings the heat while putting the city on his back in the process. He even shouts out Louisville native D’Angelo Russell (Los Angeles Laker rookie guard) in that gold and purple.

FINAL GRADE: A

BREAKDOWN: This is a complete album with enough substance to satisfy pure R&B fans but enough uptempo tracks to keep mainstream listeners entertained.

Brandon-Clay-Bio-2 Brandon Clay is a contributor to PSBPopCulture.com through his various genre reviews. A self-professed entertainment & music junkie, Clay has been on his game since picking up his first Nintendo and Sony Walkman in the early 90’s. You can follow him on Twitter @bballplusmusic.

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