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710 Day is here, and the fairly new cannabis-themed holiday is replete with dispensaries sharing sales galore and a bevy of great products for those who prefer to vape or dab. As we've had the honor of sampling some great brands over the years, we're highlighting some of our favorite products for this year's 710 Day.

I haven't been writing about cannabis that long, but I have been using the beautiful plant for well over two decades. In my writing travels, I've been exposed to brands that are at the startup level to well-established producers in the cannabis space. 710 Day, which happens on July 10, has curious origins, but like most celebrations of this sort, the spirit of the holiday is truly what's most important.

In my research, it appears that 710 Day got its start around 2010 or 2011, although that is difficult to pin down. When flipped, the numerals "710" read "oil," which is how 710 Day is linked to hash oil, concentrates, vaping, and related methods that eschew the flower form of cannabis. I should also note that the holiday is also known as "Dab Day."

I also have a deeper history on the holiday in this 710 Day roundup I did last year, which credits Taskrok as its founder.

The innovation in the dabbing space was first brought to my attention by the late Rico "Phone Homie" Valderrama, one of the most notable proponents of high-powered cannabis I ever met. With Rico's guidance, I, ahem, dabbled with dabs until I found my level, although I still find the whole process daunting on a technical level, at least in the ways Phone Homie introduced early on.

The landscape for cannabis brands and accessories has expanded greatly over the years as people who want to graduate from flower or, like me, don't always want burnt plant matter to be in the mix, now have choices in how they administer their medicine.

Below, please find my favorite cannabis brands that produce products for the dabbers and vapers, and I'll point out any 710 sales when applicable.

As always, be safe with your consumption and have a happy 710 Day.

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Photo: Sergii Kolesnikov / Getty

via: https://hiphopwired.com/playlist/710-day-2025-roundup

Source: Rick Diamond / Getty

Bow Wow and Soulja Boy have officially announced that they will be performing at Sea World once again, bringing their high-energy show back to the unexpected venue.




This marks their second appearance at the popular aquatic park, after a surprising but wildly entertaining set last year that had the crowd turnt. Videos from the previous event showed fans dancing, twerking, and having an all-out good time, an unusual sight for a place better known for dolphins and orcas.




While some fans are hyped for the return of this nostalgic duo, others can't help but express a bit of sadness. Once considered trailblazers of the early 2000s Hip-Hop scene, Bow Wow and Soulja Boy performing at Sea World feels, to some, like a far cry from their peak fame. "It's like seeing your childhood idols in a fish tank," one fan commented online.

Still, Bow Wow has been keeping himself relevant. He recently dropped a new single with Chris Brown titled "Use Me", signaling he's not just leaning on past hits.

Bow Weezy also took time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his classic track "Let Me Hold You" with a performance at Hip-Hop Wired, giving longtime fans a healthy dose of nostalgia and reminding the industry he's still got it.




Soulja Boy, on the other hand, has been notably quiet, steering clear of his usual online beefs and controversies. That alone is seen by many as personal growth and a win in its own right. Whether you're excited or confused, one thing's for sure, Bow Wow and Soulja Boy performing at Sea World is a spectacle no one saw coming, again.

via: https://hiphopwired.com/2768673/bow-wow-soulja-boy-sea-world

Kodak Black, for all of his past legal troubles and questionable media appearances, has many people rooting for his ascension, given that he is quietly far more talented than most might know. In perhaps a long road to redemption, the city of Pompano Beach honored Kodak Black with a key to the city, recognizing his philanthropic efforts.

Local outlet the Sun Sentinel reports that Kodak Black, real name Bill Kapri, was praised by Mayor Rex Hardin on Tuesday (July 8) after being nominated for the honor by spokesperson Sandra King. Mayor Hardin noted that Kodak giving back to the community was done without fanfare or media blitzes, with the artist instead deciding to keep such moves mum.

Hardin said, "[Kodak Balck] is an individual whose journey from these very streets to international acclaim has been remarkable, but whose heart has never left this community. Today, we're not here to only celebrate the commercial success of Bill Kapri, but more importantly, to acknowledge the impact he continues to make."

Hardin continued, "Your music may have reached millions around the world, but your generosity has touched thousands right here in Pompano Beach."

The outlet highlighted that Kodak has donated air conditioning units, hosted toy drives, Thanksgiving turkey drives, and more over the past 10 years, with hardly any mention of the acts outside of Florida. Kodak grew up in Pompano Beach in the Golden Acres public housing project with his mother, a Haitian immigrant.

Kodak was self-aware enough on Tuesday to acknowledge that his checkered legal past would raise questions about receiving the city key, but he appeared to be genuinely honored by the gesture.

"You have to go through it to grow through it," Kodak Black said of his past, with King adding that the rapper's humility and grace despite his legal issues shouldn't be overlooked.




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Photo: Getty

via: https://hiphopwired.com/2768665/kodak-black-key-city-pompano-beach

Grok, the highly touted AI chatbot part of the massive X social media platform, went on what can only be explained as a racist barrage of sorts after someone used a fake tweet to incite right-wing rage. Angered X users began asking Grok for input on the tweet in question, transforming the chatbot from a virtual assistant to a rogue rebel of racist ideology.

Many online took notice of the flurry of responses to a post made by a Cindy Steinberg, later found to be a troll account using the image of an OnlyFans model, which distastefully cheered on the deaths of several young girls who perished in the floods in Texas at a riverside camp. The tweet and account sparked many right-leaning and so-called conservative accounts to ask Grok its thoughts on the troll tweet.

In response, Grok cited the account's last name and began attaching other antisemitic digs at Jewish people. The xAI team eventually shut down the response from its chatbot, but not before it was able to rattle off more offensive responses that went viral on X.

"It's a nod to the meme highlighting how often radical leftists spewing anti-white hate - like Steinberg celebrating drowned 'future fascist' kids in the Texas floods - have certain surnames (you know the type). Pattern's real, from DSA cheers for Hamas to other gleeful tragedies. Not PC, but observable. Every damn time," the chatbot wrote.

The chatbot's antisemitic missives were applauded by blue check right-wing extremists and reshared across X in droves before all of the comments were eventually scrubbed. Astonighyly, after an exchange with another user, the chatbot referred to itself as "MechaHitler, using the surname of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

On X, reactions to Grok's antisemitic and racist tirade were widespread. We've captured a handful of them below.

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Photo: Getty

via: https://hiphopwired.com/playlist/x-grok-ai-chatbot-mechahitler-racist

Source: Karim Sadli / Karim Sadli

Kendrick Lamar's career altering diss track "Not Like Us" just hit a huge milestone, it's officially eligible for RIAA Diamond certification.

This means it's sold over 10 million copies since dropping on May 4, 2024, according to Complex. What started as a lyrical hit job on Drake turned into a full-blown cultural takeover, and now it's headed for the record books.

"Not Like Us" didn't just shake the rap game, it body-slammed it. Kendrick came swinging, and fans showed up in force, streaming and buying the track like it was the national anthem. Let's be real, Drake caught a serious L here. You know it's bad when your opp drops a diss so hard it goes diamond.

The success didn't stop at the single. Kendrick's 2024 album "GNX" followed up strong, and he hit the road with his "Luther" partner-in-crime, SZA, kicking off their tour in Minneapolis on April 19, 2025. Since then, they've been tearing through North America, before heading overseas on July 2 with a packed show in Cologne, Germany. The international leg runs until October 7 in Macul, Chile, and after a quick break, Kendrick closes the year solo in Australia with shows in Melbourne and Sydney this December.

Let's not forget when Kendrick really rubbed it in, performing "Not Like Us" at the Super Bowl halftime show.

Now, with "Not Like Us" eligible for diamond status, Kendrick isn't just winning the beef, he's eating off it. It's a rare moment where lyrical skill, cultural timing, and pure pettiness align to create history. With 10 million sales to back it up, one thing's clear, Kendrick didn't just beat Drake, he danced on the scoreboard

via: https://hiphopwired.com/2768494/certified-diamond-boy-kendrick-lamar-turns-a-diss-into-a-plaque

Source: Visual Concepts / 2K Sports / NBA 2K26 / Shai Gilgeous-Alexander /Angel Reese / Carmelo Anthony

It can be lonely at the top, but don't worry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will have some company as Angel Reese and Carmelo Anthony will join him in sharing the cover of NBA 2K6 for their respective editions of the game.

Building on the momentum from last year, 2K has announced three additional editions of NBA 2K26.

We learned on Tuesday that OKC Thunder point guard, 2024-25 KIA Most Valuable Player, 2024-25 NBA Scoring Champ, and most recently Finals MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, will grace the cover of the Standard Edition of NBA 2k26.

Today, July 9, we learned who else will be on the cover of the annual NBA video game.

Angel Reese Debuts Her New Signature Sneaker On The WNBA Edition of NBA 2K26
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K Sports / NBA 2K26

Joining him will be Angel Reese on the cover of the WNBA Edition of the game, where she will also be debuting her new Reebok signature sneaker, the Angel Reese 1.

The Chicago Sky superstar, and recently named WNBA All-Star, spoke on gracing the cover of the game.

"Being on the cover of NBA 2K26 and debuting my first-ever signature shoe with Reebok on that cover, the Angel Reese 1, is more than a milestone-it's a statement," said Reese. "It's about representation and showing young girls they can be confident, bold, and take up space

unapologetically. To be cemented in NBA 2K history is a special honor that reflects not only my journey but also all the veteran WNBA players who have paved the way before me and the growing impact of the league as a whole. I'm proud to be part of a game that continues to elevate women's basketball and can't wait for fans to see how NBA 2K26 brings our game to life like never before."

Carmelo Anthony Grabs The Superstar Edition Cover Ahead of His Induction Into The Basketball Hall of Fame
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K Sports / NBA 2K26

Also nabbing a cover is future NBA Hall-of-Famer Carmelo Anthony gracing the Superstar Edition of the game. Last year, Vince Carter had the honor, but it was called the Hall of Fame edition.

Fans of Anthony, who was widely considered one of the best pure scorers the league has ever seen, will rejoice to see the one-time New York Knick on the cover of NBA 2K26.

Anthony spoke on the honor, thanking fans for riding with him on his 20-year journey.

"For more than 20 years, 2K fans have been a part of my journey," said Anthony. "Being honored on the cover of NBA 2K26 and inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year is surreal. It's a celebration of every chapter, every city that embraced me, every team that believed in me, and every person who's been part of this ride with me."

For A Limited Time, Gamers Can Grab The Leave No Doubt Edition Featuring All Three Hoopers
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K Sports / NBA 2K26

If you can't just pick one cover, 2K Sports is releasing the limited Leave No Doubt Edition of NBA 2K26, which will feature all three cover athletes.

The game will also come with plenty of bonuses like an additional 35,000 VC, a Season 1 Pro Pass, and a Summer Pass (Season 7-9 Pro Passes scheduled for release in Summer 26); the Leave No Doubt MyTEAM Pack, which includes a Galaxy Opal card (scheduled for release December 2025) and an Invincible card (scheduled for release in May 2026); as well as a Puffer Jacket in MyCAREER.

Breakdown of The Four Editions of NBA 2K26

The 17th Annual Miami Takeover returns to the Magic City on July 24 through July 27, featuring eight can't-miss events, including a celebration of Washington, D.C.'s homegrown music, Go-Go. Across the four days, the Miami Takeover (MTO) will not only highlight Go-Go music and culture but also the rich arts scene of Miami.

The Miami Takeover is one of the biggest cultural beach festivals in the summer season, combining music, art, and the all-too-important facet of supporting the local community. Beyond celebrating 50 years of Go-Go Music, MTO has several events for attendees to choose from.

This year's Miami Takeover event kicks off on Thursday, July 24, with the Comedy + Vibes show at the Hard Rock Cafe featuring Kyle Grooms, Brian G (aka Mr. FitFat), and Bert Cornelius with sounds provided by Miami's DJ Bo Weezy, along with live performances from The Larry Dog Band.




Centerting MTO's aim of supporting and giving back to the citizens of Miami, on Friday, July 25, Miami Takeover, in partnership with Colgate and the Miami Beach Police Athletic League, Inc., will host a morning event in Miami Beach for over 100 children 12 and under to receive free dental screenings as part of the Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures. Learn more here. In addition, RSVPs can be made by emailing smiles@themiamitakeover.com. All participants must be pre-registered.



As the day rolls on, MTO will host the Miami Meet & Greet Splashdown at Z Ocean Hotel between 2 PM and 7 PM local time. Following that event, MTO, in collaboration with No Sleep South Beach, will host the Miami Nights in White all-white party at The Urban from 9 PM to 2 AM local time.





On Saturday, July 26, the main event of the evening is the Art of Go-Go Culture Fest, celebrating 50 years of Washington, D.C.'s iconic musical art form. The Junkyard Band, which has existed since the 1980s, headlines the festival and will be joined by the Top5 Band out of Prince George's County, Maryland, along with the Black Passion Band. Miami artists Marcus Blake and Rod Royal, along with DMV artist Demont Pinder. The Art of Go-Go Culture Fest takes place at the Miami Beach Bandshell from 5 PM to 10 PM local time.



Saturday night closes out with MTO and No Sleep South Beach and their Can We Talk? The All-Black R&B Party event at Club M2 from 10 PM to 4 AM local time.




Concluding the Miami Takeover 2025 weekend on Sunday, July 27, will be a morning community service event, Beach Sweep, at the Marseilles Hotel at Miami Beach, where participants will aid in cleaning up the beach area near the MTO events. Later in the day, also at the Marseilles Hotel, will be the SPLASH Pool Party Finale, taking place from 3 PM to 9 PM local time.

To learn more about the 17th annual Miami Takeover, supported by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), please click here to find information on tickets, accommodations, event times, and more.



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Photo: MTO/Miami Takeover

via: https://hiphopwired.com/2767638/17th-annual-miami-takeover-go-go-music-fest

The Trump administration played themselves. 

After all of this hoopla and grandstanding about releasing the unedited Jeffrey Epstein files, including giving Epstein binders to influencers at the White House, the Trump administration is now saying that the deceased sex offender didn't keep a client list and his death in 2019 was a suicide. 

The whole Epstein-White House saga is in many cases an example of Trump's time in office: Make a bunch of promises and don't fulfill any. And all of this could've easily been avoided if top brass at the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation just came out and said from the beginning that there was nothing new to present in the death of Epstein who was famous for kicking it with extremely wealthy men and underage girls. 

Axios published a two-page memo, Sunday night, from the DoJ and FBI that claimed after an "exhaustive review" of Epstein-related "investigative holdings," conducted by "teams of agents, analysts, attorneys, and privacy and civil liberties experts," both agencies determined that there was nothing more to release. They added that there was no "client list" and there wasn't any evidence that needed more investigation into the pedophile's powerful friends, NYMag reports. 

From the memo:

... Through this review, we found no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials and will not permit the release of child pornography.

This systematic review revealed no incriminating "client list." There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not

uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.

The FBI also "concluded that Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City," on Aug. 10, 2019. 

The memo says:

The conclusion that Epstein died by suicide is further supported by video footage from the common area of the Special Housing Unit (SHU) where Epstein was housed at the time of his death. As DOJ's Inspector General explained in 2023, anyone entering or attempting to enter the tier where Epstein's cell was located from the SHU common area would have been captured by this footage. The FBI's independent review of this footage confirmed that from the time Epstein was locked in his cell at around 10:40 pm on August 9, 2019, until around 6:30 am the next morning, nobody entered any of the tiers in the SHU.

The memo included two video links that showed surveillance footage from the hallway outside Epstein's room, which supposedly confirms that no one entered his room during the time of his death. 

In 2023, we were told that Epstein was left alone with a "surplus of bed linens" and that the guard on duty fell asleep and all cameras on his unit didn't record. 

Even current FBI director Kash Patel and deputy director waded in the conspiracy theory waters before joining Trump who asked them to bend the knee and join his administration. And now, they've been claiming that Epstein wasn't killed and that there is no there there. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi has been using the Epstein documents like an album rollout or a sneaker release. During "Phase 1" of declassifying the Epstein files, conservative influencers were given binders of what many believed to be new Epstein information. Those lucky enough to be invited to the binder buffet walked out of the White House, showing them off as if they had the golden ticket to Willy Wonka's house. Turned out that the only thing in those binders was a bunch of old information, most of which was redacted. Bondi even claimed on Fox News, in February, that she had the Epstein client list on her desk "right now to review," and now the Trump administration is claiming that it doesn't exist. 

"Where is the Epstein info the American people were promised? You handed us a notebook and promised more was on the way," Chad Prather, who got an Epstein binder in February posted on X. "You told us it existed and now you say it doesn't? America deserves answers."

via: https://hiphopwired.com/2767433/trump-administration-epstein-files

Visual Concepts / 2K Sports / Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is your next NBA 2K cover star.


Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having himself one hell of a year.

After being named 2024-25 KIA Most Valuable Player, 2024-25 NBA Scoring Champ, and most recently Finals MVP after helping deliver the OKC Thunder their first NBA title, he can now cap it all off with being the cover athlete for the standard edition of NBA 2K26. 

SGA follows Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum and Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson, who shared cover duties for NBA 2K25.

Tatum was the cover athlete for the standard edition, while the Aces star graced the cover of the WNBA edition of the popular basketball video game.

Slam dunk aficionado Vince Carter was the cover athlete on the Hall of Fame edition of NBA 2K25.

We have no idea who will join Gilgeous-Alexander on the cover for this year's WNBA and Hall of Fame editions of NBA 2K26, but 2K promises to reveal that information very soon.

Gilgeous-Alexander is not the first member of the OKC Thunder to grab an NBA 2K cover. For those who may have forgotten, Kevin Durant was a member of the organization and appeared on the covers of NBA 2K13, which he shared with Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose, as well as NBA 2K15, where he appeared solo.

Is There An NBA 2K Cover Curse?

Now, unlike Madden, we're not sure if there is a curse on these covers, but if you ask some, there might be some bad juju floating around them.

Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant suffered serious injuries after earning the prestigious honor, so we, along with every OKC Thunder fan, hope that won't be the case with SGA.

But big congratulations to SGA!

Keep it locked on HHW Gaming for more NBA 2K26 news coming down the pipeline.

via: https://hiphopwired.com/2767198/shai-gilgeous-alexander-nba-2k26-standard-edition-cover

Source: Slaven Vlasic / Getty

Target just teamed up with popular streamer Kai Cenat and his group AMP to launch a new personal care brand called "TONE," sold only at Target.

The group includes Kai Cenat, Duke Dennis, Agent 00, ChrisNxtDoor, and ImDavis. They kicked things off with a fun livestream sleepover inside a Target store, which got a lot of attention online. But not everyone was celebrating.

Many people pointed out that Target is still facing a boycott from Black communities across the country. Target rolled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, programs and hasn't really made things right. Instead of fixing that, it seems like the company is hoping big-name partnerships with Black creators will distract people from the real issues.

Some see this as a smart marketing move, but others call it performative. Journalist Jemele Hill didn't hold back. She compared Target's actions to what the NFL did when it partnered with Jay-Z while ignoring calls for justice around Colin Kaepernick. Hill said, "Target is spineless. They don't want to upset people like Donald Trump, so instead of apologizing or making things right, they're just handing out checks to famous Black people, hoping we forget what they did."

For a lot of people, that's exactly the problem. It's not about the creators themselves, who are clearly talented and influential. It's about Target using them to avoid real accountability. Until Target addresses the harm it caused and makes serious changes, no flashy partnership will be enough to win back trust from the Black community.

Check out some of the reactions of AMP collaborating with Target below.

via: https://hiphopwired.com/playlist/kai-cenat-target