Latest news with #SoFarGone
IOL News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Lil Wayne's son claims father wrote most of Drake's lyrics, sparking fierce debate
For years, Lil Wayne has been credited as the catalyst for Drake's illustrious career, but now, his son argues that the accolades should extend further to creative contributions. This revelation has reignited discussions about authorship and originality in the rap world, a topic that has long been a subject of scrutiny. In a recent livestream that has sent ripples through the hip hop community, Lil Wayne's son, Lil Novi, dropped a bombshell claim, asserting that his father wrote 'most' of Drake's lyrics. For years, Wayne has been credited as the catalyst for Drake's illustrious career, but now, his son argues that the accolades should extend further to creative contributions. 'My dad wrote most of Drake's sh*t,' Novi declared confidently when posed with the prompt to choose between his father and the Canadian rap superstar. 'If it wasn't for my pops, there wouldn't be no Drake.' These provocative comments have quickly gained traction online, leading fans and experts alike to debate their validity. Some recall the ghostwriting controversy that broke open in 2015, when Meek Mill accused Drake of using ghostwriter Quentin Miller on parts of his acclaimed mixtape, 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late'. Novi seemed to push this narrative further, insisting that Wayne had a fundamental influence on Drake's seminal albums, including 'Take Care' and 'Views'. However, scepticism surrounds his claim, particularly given that Novi was born after the launch of Drake's breakthrough mixtape, 'So Far Gone", in 2009. The age difference has raised doubts about whether the young artist fully understands the historical context or is merely seeking attention in the public sphere. The disturbance surrounding Novi's comments raises questions yet again about the authenticity of hip hop - a genre that apparently thrives on its artists' individual voices. Though Drake and Wayne have enjoyed a remarkably close working dynamic over the past decade, these latest claims have prompted renewed discussions about the blurring lines of authorship. So far, neither Drake nor Wayne have publicly addressed the situation, leaving fans anticipating a response.
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Meet fluffy 'bookseller' puppy Story at Dog-Eared Books in Iowa
Meet fluffy 'bookseller' puppy Story at Dog-Eared Books in Iowa Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way, and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities. Each week we profile an independent bookstore, sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert and unique book recommendations. This week we have Ellyn Grimm and Amanda Lepper, co-owners of Dog-Eared Books in Ames, Iowa. What's your store's story? We are high school classmates who returned to our hometown to raise families. We reconnected over a shared love of reading, social justice and our strong-willed daughters who ended up in the same preschool class. As the years passed, we hatched a plan to create something we thought was sorely missing in our community – an independent bookstore. Dog-Eared Books opened on International Women's Day in 2021. We are a place committed to nurturing a love of reading for all members of our community by offering a thoughtfully curated and inclusive selection of books. We believe reading and storytelling make us better humans, allowing us to better care for one another. What makes your independent bookstore unique? We're proud to be located on a thriving, historic Main Street in a college town that attracts people from all over the world. We engage with our local community in a multitude of ways: more than 15 book clubs, puzzle competitions, book fairs for kids and adults, author events, fundraisers, collaborations with other community businesses and organizations and advocacy work around social justice issues. In the age of algorithms and AI, bookstores do what tech cannot – human connection. Our booksellers read voraciously across all genres and can find the perfect read for anyone who walks through our door. Of course, everyone's favorite 'bookseller' is Story, a 6-month-old golden retriever who works as a service animal in the store. What's your favorite section in your store? We personally love fiction of the slightly absurd variety – 'Sky Daddy,' 'American Mermaid' and 'Margo's Got Money Troubles,' to name a few. That said, we enthusiastically curate for the tastes of all of our readers. What book do you love to recommend to customers and why? Right now, we're really loving 'So Far Gone' by Jess Walter. We love to recommend it because we think it's a book that speaks to so many of us at this particular time. When the temptation to disengage from the world is so strong, the author urges us to remember why we need connection. And it's funny. We had the privilege of chatting with Jess Walter on our podcast "Bubbles and Books." It was a delight to discover that even with a laundry list of literary awards to his name, he remains warm and welcoming. We were so inspired by his hopefulness. What book do you think deserves more attention and why? We were blown away by 'O Sinners!' by Nicole Cuffy. It would be a travesty of epic proportions if it doesn't win all the things. Cuffy writes with such precision and intention. The interwoven narrative structure is brilliant. She also respects her readers – she gives us challenging, fundamentally human questions to grapple with and she doesn't give us easy answers. Cuffy also appeared on our podcast. Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important? Reading is a solitary activity, but it can also be the basis for meaningful connection – we have found that our store has become a place that has allowed our community to forge connections and come to know one another better. Independent bookstores are run by readers for readers – each one that you walk into will surprise you with its unique offerings and forever change your reading life. What are some of your store's events, programs, or partnerships coming up that you would like to share? We offer four monthly subscriptions that ship all across the country: new release fiction, romance, chapter book, and picture book. Our podcast discusses two of the best things in life – books and champagne. We're thrilled to be hosting one of our all-time favorite authors, Kevin Wilson, in June. Some other upcoming authors we're excited to host are Tarah Dewitt, Jess Walter and Paisley Hope. This summer, we'll be offering puzzle competitions, a boozy adult book fair and a flash tattoo event benefitting reproductive health care.
Gulf Today
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
Jess Walter's 'So Far Gone' sets a redemption story in fractured, modern America
When the history of the United States in 2025 is written, perhaps one of the best things that will be said is: "Well, it made for some great art." Consider "So Far Gone," the new novel by Jess Walter. Set in present day America, it opens with two kids wearing backpacks knocking on a cabin door. "What are you fine young capitalists selling?" asks Rhys Kinnick, before realizing the kids are his grandchildren. They carry with them a note from Kinnick's daughter, describing dad as a "recluse who cut off contact with our family and now lives in squalor in a cabin north of Spokane." It's a great hook that draws you in and doesn't really let up for the next 256 pages. We learn why Kinnick pulled a Thoreau and went to the woods seven years ago (Hint: It has a lot to do with the intolerance exhibited by no small percentage of Americans and embodied by a certain occupant of the White House), as well as the whereabouts of Kinnick's daughter, Bethany, and why her messy marriage to a guy named Shane led to Kinnick's grandchildren being dropped off at his cabin. In a neat narrative gimmick, the chapters are entitled "What Happened to ___" and fill in the main strokes of each character's backstory, as well as what happens to them in the present timeline. Told with an omniscient third-person sense of humor, the book's themes are nonetheless serious. On the demise of journalism in the chapter "What Happened to Lucy," one of Kinnick's old flames and colleagues at the Spokesman-Review: She "hated that reporters were expected to constantly post on social media… before knowing what their stories even meant." Or Kinnick's thoughts as he holds a .22 Glock given to him just in case by a retired police officer who is helping him get his grandkids back from the local militia: "The shiver that went through his arm! The power!… The weight of this gun was the exact weight of his anger and his fear and his sense of displacement… That's where its incredible balance lay." As Kinnick links up with various characters and drives across the Northwest in search of his daughter and grandchildren, the plot unfolds quickly. Most readers won't need more than a day or two to reach the final page, which satisfies the Thoreau quote Walter uses in the story's preface: "Not till we are lost… 'till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves." Associated Press
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Drake and LeBron James attend Indian-origin man's wedding in Toronto? Fans speculate as video, pic go viral
Drake and LeBron James fans are elated, as they think the stars were in the same place while attending the wedding of Indian-Canadian Vinay Virmani. This came amid speculations of a rift between the longtime friends following LeBron siding with Kendrick Lamar during Drake's feud with almost everyone in 2024. 'Drake & LeBron James are reportedly at the same wedding currently. The wedding is for Vinay Virmani, who works at LeBron's company 'Uninterrupted' which Drake is an investor in. The wedding is taking place in Toronto where LeBron has been recently spotted,' an X user wrote while sharing a photo and a video. The picture is an Instagram story uploaded on Drake's profile. It shows him standing beside a picture of the couple with the words 'Congrats, my brother' written on it. The video, re-shared from TikTok, opens with a caption that reads, 'LeBron James spotted in Toronto.' Since then, fans have been speculating that both were there to attend the same wedding. cannot independently verify the claim. Their friendship blossomed when LeBron attended Drake's 'So Far Gone' mixtape release party in 2009, which the rapper later called a pivotal moment in his career. They continued to support each other publicly, and their friendship grew stronger. They would show up at each other's parties, important events, and even family gatherings. However, the alleged rift between the longtime friends came after Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us'. LeBron publicly embraced the track, which allegedly caused a wedge between him and Drake. According to his LinkedIn profile, Virmani is an Indian-Canadian writer and actor. He is also the founder of the Toronto film and TV production company First Take Entertainment. He is a partner and chief content officer with Uninterrupted, a joint venture founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter. According to a 2019 report by the Hollywood Reporter, Drake became a part owner and promoter of Uninterrupted Canada, the NBA star's digital athlete empowerment platform.
San Francisco Chronicle
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Review: Jess Walter's 'So Far Gone' sets a redemption story in fractured, modern America
When the history of the United States in 2025 is written, perhaps one of the best things that will be said is: 'Well, it made for some great art.' Consider 'So Far Gone,' the new novel by Jess Walter. Set in present day America, it opens with two kids wearing backpacks knocking on a cabin door. 'What are you fine young capitalists selling?' asks Rhys Kinnick, before realizing the kids are his grandchildren. They carry with them a note from Kinnick's daughter, describing dad as a 'recluse who cut off contact with our family and now lives in squalor in a cabin north of Spokane.' More Information So Far Gone By Jess Walter (Harper; 272 pages; $30) Jess Walter in conversation with Tom Barbash: 6 p.m. June 24. Free. Book Passage, 51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera. 415-927-0960. Jess Walter discusses 'So Far Gone': 7 p.m. June 25. Free. Lafayette Library, 3491 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette. 925-283-6513. It's a great hook that draws you in and doesn't really let up for the next 256 pages. We learn why Kinnick pulled a Thoreau and went to the woods seven years ago (Hint: It has a lot to do with the intolerance exhibited by no small percentage of Americans and embodied by a certain occupant of the White House), as well as the whereabouts of Kinnick's daughter, Bethany, and why her messy marriage to a guy named Shane led to Kinnick's grandchildren being dropped off at his cabin. In a neat narrative gimmick, the chapters are entitled 'What Happened to ___' and fill in the main strokes of each character's backstory, as well as what happens to them in the present timeline. Told with an omniscient third-person sense of humor, the book's themes are nonetheless serious. On the demise of journalism in the chapter 'What Happened to Lucy,' one of Kinnick's old flames and colleagues at the Spokesman-Review: She 'hated that reporters were expected to constantly post on social media… before knowing what their stories even meant.' Or Kinnick's thoughts as he holds a .22 Glock given to him just in case by a retired police officer who is helping him get his grandkids back from the local militia: 'The shiver that went through his arm! The power!… The weight of this gun was the exact weight of his anger and his fear and his sense of displacement… That's where its incredible balance lay.' As Kinnick links up with various characters and drives across the Northwest in search of his daughter and grandchildren, the plot unfolds quickly. Most readers won't need more than a day or two to reach the final page, which satisfies the Thoreau quote Walter uses in the story's preface: 'Not till we are lost… 'till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves.'
