Story
Shaq Explains What Magic Johnson Told Him Upon Lakers Arrival
In the late 90s, Shaquille O’Neal left the Orlando Magic and joined the Los Angeles Lakers where he would team up with none other than Kobe Bryant and go on to win three-straight NBA titles from 2000 to 2002. Following his stint in L.A., Shaq went to the Miami Heat where he won his fourth and final title, before becoming a journeyman. If you keep track of Shaq’s career outside of basketball, you would know that he has a plethora of business ventures and has made more money off of the court, than on it.
During a conversation with Daymond John for “Black Entrepreneurs Day presented by Chase For Business,” Shaq spoke at length about his business dealings and who is to thank for it all. As he notes, he is particularly indebted to Magic Johnson, who gave him some incredible advice upon his arrival in Los Angeles.
“Where did I get my business acumen from,” Shaq said. “Magic Johnson when I first got to L.A. said, ‘Shaq, it’s okay to be famous and all that, but at some point, you want to start owning things.’ First thing I said was, ‘Okay, I want to own a clothing line.’”
Johnson has certainly made his mark in the business world, particularly as part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who recently won the World Series. Johnson has made huge strides outside of basketball and it’s clear that Shaq has followed in his footsteps.
Story
Kyle Ashen’s sun-drenched recollection with new release “That Local Girl”
Kyle Ashen’s latest release, “That Local Girl,” is a gorgeous trip down memory lane, a country single that explores that golden glow of memory, like flipping through old photographs touched by salt air and summer sunlight. It’s warm, cinematic, and deeply relatable, a song about the kind of love story that never quite goes away, even as time moves on.
“That Local Girl” is filled with imagery that quickly takes the listener into a world they can walk right into. You got a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl on a boardwalk street by the ocean, a souped-up truck driving through town, neon lights reflecting off the ocean breeze, and the electric innocence of young love burning in the background.
But under all that cutesy trapping is something more than that, longing. Some people, some places that leave permanent marks on Kyle Ashen and us know that. What’s so brilliant about this song is that it marries those two ideas, making love and hometown memory feel beautifully inseparable. Sometimes you miss a person. And with that person, you miss an entire version of life. “That Local Girl” is more than a country love song from Kyle Ashen. He is a living postcard from the past, sun-faded, bittersweet, and glowing with feeling. A reminder that summers pass by, but some memories stay with us forever.
Connect with Kyle Ashen on Spotify || Instagram || Facebook || Youtube
Artist Spotlight
ECHOFLIP inspires faith and fire with triumphant anthem on “Kingdom Rise”
ECHOFLIP marches forward with commanding purpose on “Kingdom Rise,” a single that not only demands attention but also commands it. Driven by pounding drums, soaring melodic textures, and full-conviction lyricism, the song arrives like a battle cry with the heart of worship. Bold and energized and spiritually charged from beginning to end.
“Kingdom Rise” is street realism meets kingdom vision at its heart. It’s got grit in its pulse but grace in its message as well. Each bar rings with resilience with ECHOFLIP, a record that embodies struggle, perseverance, and steadfast faith in the face of adversity. The result is music that is rooted in reality while reaching for something much larger.
What makes the single particularly compelling is how seamlessly it combines high-energy Christian trap with uplifting spiritual themes. The hard-hitting production has edge and urgency, and its faith-centered focus gives it soul. It’s motivational without being pushy. Worshipful without momentum loss, without losing authenticity. Ideal for trap gospel, inspirational rap, and urban playlists that aim to uplift as much as energize, “Kingdom Rise” delivers on all fronts. It moves the body, it sharpens the mind, it stirs the soul.
Connect with ECHOFLIP on Spotify
-
Artist Spotlight3 days agoCam Blair makes a statement with intriguing presence on new release “Clean Up”
-
Artist Spotlight3 days agoElevator Operator finds joy in motion on the bright and uplifting new track “Haha Hoo – 2026 Version”
-
Artist Spotlight3 days agoEmme Rain stands out with deeply personal new release “Voodoo Music”
-
Artist Spotlight3 days agoLAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”
-
Artist Spotlight5 days agoHymaginn steps up with a smooth and melodic new release “She Got It”
-
Artist Spotlight2 days agoYG Kayboe merges soul and street savvy on the potent “By The Way”
-
Artist Spotlight2 days agoThe AYAMI unveils a soft anthem of rebirth on new release “Good Morning”
-
Artist Spotlight4 days agoAzsh lifts the room with neon hearts and playful sparks on “Mood”