Cooper Flagg Stats Tonight: Mavericks Rookie Goes Head-To-Head against Kevin Durant In Clash Against Rockets (Nov. 3)

Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks faced off against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets in their seventh regular-season game on Monday.

With Anthony Davis absent, Flagg once again led the Mavericks’ starting lineup. The former Duke phenom was joined by Max Christie, Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and P. J. Washington.

Flagg overcame the struggles of his previous shooting performance and came out firing on all cylinders against the Rockets. The rookie got off to a strong offensive start, scoring seven quick points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting from the field.

He finished the first quarter with an impressive stat line of nine points, three rebounds, and one assist.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-cooper-flagg-stats-tonight-mavericks-rookie-goes-head-to-head-kevin-durant-in-clash-against-rockets-nov-3

ARC Raiders A Warm Place to Rest Quest Guide

**A Warm Place to Rest Quest Guide | ARC Raiders**

“A Warm Place to Rest” is a quest in ARC Raiders that tasks you with investigating an abandoned camp. But is the camp really abandoned? Or perhaps, you might uncover clues about the whereabouts of its former inhabitants. Regardless, it’s definitely a location worth exploring!

### Step 1: Head to the Abandoned Highway Camp

For the first step, make your way to the Abandoned Highway Camp. You can find this camp in the southwestern corner of the Buried City map. Once you arrive, look for a blue backpack on the ground. It will be located between two buses on the highway itself.

### Step 2: Follow the Red Markers

After picking up the backpack, you’ll be instructed to follow the red markers along the highway. This part requires quite a bit of walking, but don’t worry—it’s only about 450 meters away.

### Step 3: Navigate to the Waypoint

Follow the highway heading east until you reach a broken section. At that point, leave the highway and continue west, moving towards the waypoint shown in the image above.

### Step 4: Investigate the Grave

When you reach your destination, you’ll find a stick sticking out of the sand with a helmet placed on top. This is located in the middle of a ruined building. Approach and interact with this object to investigate—it appears to be a grave.

### Quest Completion

Inspecting the grave marks the final objective of the “A Warm Place to Rest” quest. Once done, the quest will be marked as completed in ARC Raiders.

Explore thoroughly and enjoy uncovering the story behind this mysterious abandoned camp!
https://gamesfuze.com/guides/arc-raiders-a-warm-place-to-rest-quest-guide/

Ravens Pull Off Sneaky-Good Trade Amid Winning Streak

The Baltimore Ravens have pulled off a sneaky-good trade, acquiring defensive end Dre’Mont Jones from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick. This pick can escalate to a fourth-rounder for the Titans based on certain performance factors.

Jones has been a solid pass rusher in the 2025 season, recording 4.5 sacks through nine games so far. In addition, he has tallied five tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits. What makes this trade particularly beneficial for the Ravens is that they are adding a highly productive pass rusher to their defensive lineup.

Through the 2025 season, only two players on the Ravens’ defense had multiple sacks. Linebacker Tavius Robinson and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike each have two sacks, while linebackers Trenton Simpson and Mike Green have recorded 1.5 sacks apiece. Simply put, the Ravens needed more firepower on defense, and acquiring Jones provides exactly that.

Baltimore is beginning to see the benefits of their team coming together. After dropping four straight games, they have now secured two consecutive wins. Lamar Jackson’s return to the lineup against the Miami Dolphins was pivotal — the two-time NFL MVP threw for four touchdowns and helped propel the team to a 3-5 record.

Prior to the Dolphins game, Jackson emphasized that the team would treat every game like a season-eliminator, which it technically is at this stage. The Ravens cannot afford another loss and have risen to the occasion so far. Clearly, the organization believes their 3-5 record does not reflect their true potential—and recent performances have supported that belief.

Now, with general manager Eric DeCosta making a significant move to bolster the roster by acquiring Dre’Mont Jones, it wouldn’t be surprising if more reinforcements are on the way. Ravens fans have much to look forward to as the team aims to turn their season around.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/ravens-pull-off-sneaky-good-trade-amid-winning-streak-10986350

Island-wide vote chosen for school building project

Following a contentious discussion on Monday evening, the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Committee decided to forgo traditional town meetings and instead move forward with an Island-wide vote to fund the renovation and addition project for the regional high school.

The committee convened in the school library to determine which voting process to pursue. Previously, the vote had been postponed from early October, allowing members time to consult with town officials, residents from all six towns, and each other to ensure the best path forward.

“I understand that there’s a lot of trepidation and concern. But I see confidence in our ability to take this vote tonight,” committee member Robert Lionette told the room, which included about a dozen attendees from local town officials to fellow school committee members. He noted the committee had evolved and thoroughly considered the decision. “Because of that, I am fully supportive of one, Island-wide vote,” Lionette affirmed.

### The Voting Options

Two options were on the table for how the Island community would vote on the project:

1. **Traditional Town Meetings:** Residents of each of the six towns would vote individually. However, if even one town rejected the project, the committee would need to return to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)—the funding body that offers roughly a 30 percent reimbursement on the project cost, which is currently projected at about $334 million. There are no guarantees that MSBA would continue funding if the project was initially voted down in this manner.

2. **Island-wide Vote:** Residents would vote at their respective polling locations with a simple “yes” or “no” ballot on funding the project. Since the project cost will ultimately be distributed among individual taxpayers, approval rests in the hands of the entire Island public.

Committee member Amy Houghton expressed strong support for the Island-wide vote. “There’s no removing the community’s input,” she assured attendees. Houghton shared that some Tisbury residents prefer this method after their own school building project lost approximately $30 million in MSBA reimbursement due to dissenting town voters in the past. “This is a regional school district, and we need to be able to support the school and move the project forward,” she said.

### Concerns and Opposition

Only one committee member, chair Skipper Manter, voted against the Island-wide vote. Manter voiced his belief in the traditional town meeting structure and worried about potential fallout among the towns. “I think, in small town government, there’s nothing more important than town meetings. Everybody gets a fair opportunity to express their views,” he said.

Public opposition to the Island-wide vote echoed Manter’s concerns during the meeting. Richie Smith, superintendent of all public schools on the Island, expressed unease about bypassing town meetings. “I think we need to work within the confines of what we’ve done in a traditional manner,” Smith remarked.

He emphasized the necessity of the renovation beyond simple code upgrades—such as mechanical, central air, and electrical system improvements—that alone would cost about $190 million. The planned renovation and addition are vital for the wellbeing of staff and students, Smith said, and urged the committee to focus on educating the public about the project’s importance to ensure affirmative votes, rather than changing the voting system.

Dion Alley, chair of the school building committee, shared a similar viewpoint: “I would strongly urge you to follow the path we’ve been on. I think you need to put your trust in the community, and I think the community nine out of ten times will do the right thing.”

### Voices from the Towns

Several town officials were present to weigh in on the issue. Chilmark Select Board Chair Marie Larsen voiced support for a town meeting vote. “Doing the nuclear option right off the bat is just not a good thing in my opinion,” Larsen said. “We need to get the Island behind this, and this [choosing the Island-wide vote] is the opposite of that.”

Rachel Orr, a member of Tisbury’s finance and climate committees, expressed ongoing concerns about fairness within the funding formula under an Island-wide vote. With towns paying different rates, she questioned the equity of a regional vote. Tisbury residents and officials have been vocal for months about this issue, as the town is slated to contribute more than others under the current system.

While school committee members noted that the regional agreement and funding formula had previously been approved by Tisbury officials, the reality remains that Tisbury residents face multiple capital project burdens and fear adding another financial strain.

“I had three children go through the school. I’m very grateful for the facility and I love that it’s an Island-wide institution. But there are real winners and losers here,” Orr commented.

### Final Thoughts from Committee Members

School committee member Kathryn Shertzer admitted she had struggled with the decision for months. “There are no guarantees about this project. I really hope this project moves forward regardless of the way it’s voted,” she said.

Citing the Tisbury School project, where MSBA funding fell through and residents paid significantly higher taxes than planned, Shertzer expressed caution. “I can’t fathom our Island making repeated mistakes,” she said before ultimately voting in favor of the Island-wide vote.

As the project moves ahead with an Island-wide vote, the community awaits a decision on a renovation that has been in the works for about a decade, balancing regional interests with individual town concerns and the vital goal of upgrading a critical educational facility.
https://www.mvtimes.com/2025/11/03/island-wide-vote-chosen-school-building-project/

U.S. Treasury cuts Q4 borrowing estimate to $569B

The Federal borrowing estimate for the U.S. Treasury Department for the final three months of the year was reduced to $569 billion, thanks to a stronger cash position and improved revenue collection.

The three-month period, which ended on Wednesday, saw $21 billion in short-term borrowing—significantly down from the $590 billion forecast issued in July. This marks a notable decrease in short-term borrowing. Officials attribute most of these changes to having more cash than expected at the beginning of the quarter.

According to available data, the Treasury held approximately $891 billion in cash in early October, surpassing the $850 billion in summer gross cash. By utilizing a substantial portion of this cash reserve, the department was able to slow the rate of borrowing for spending and debt repayment while still meeting all its obligations.

### Treasury Leverages a Strong Cash Buffer

The Treasury’s borrowing cut results from careful cash management, especially following months of heavy issuance to rebuild reserves after the debt ceiling suspension at the start of the calendar year. In previous quarters, Treasury increased sales of short-term bills to replenish its funds. However, strong tax inflows combined with cautious spending have left it with a larger-than-expected cash cushion.

Analysts suggest that this improved cash position could ease some pressure in the bond markets, which have faced challenges due to the rapid pace of supply and rising longer-term interest rates. The borrowing reduction is seen as a positive move to stabilize Treasury operations again, according to industry experts quoted by the *Financial Times*.

Additionally, lowering borrowing requirements may help steady Treasury yields, offering investors a clearer outlook on Federal Reserve interest rate hikes.

### Continued Fiscal Challenges Ahead

Despite the borrowing cut, economists caution that this is not a sign of broader fiscal restraint. Federal spending levels remain unchanged, and borrowing continues to be significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels.

The Treasury also faces ongoing challenges moving forward.

### High Borrowing Plans for Early 2026

Looking ahead, the Treasury plans to borrow approximately $578 billion between January and March 2026, assuming a year-end cash balance of $850 billion. This forecast aligns with previous projections and highlights that federal borrowing will remain considerable in the upcoming quarters.

Government expenditures on entitlement programs, infrastructure plans, and other initiatives continue to drive this high borrowing demand.

Market observers expect a balanced issuance strategy across bills, notes, and bonds, aiming to maintain appropriate liquidity throughout the maturity spectrum without destabilizing the Treasury market.

### Managing Persistent Fiscal Deficits

Persistent fiscal deficits mean that effective debt management is more critical now than ever. While the current reduction in borrowing may offer short-term relief from oversupply concerns, investor focus will soon shift to the Treasury’s strategy for the first quarter of 2026, especially given the prevailing economic conditions and political landscape.

*Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. It’s free.*
https://bitcoinethereumnews.com/finance/u-s-treasury-cuts-q4-borrowing-estimate-to-569b/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=u-s-treasury-cuts-q4-borrowing-estimate-to-569b

Iconic ’60s sitcom Bewitched set for reboot five decades later

The beloved ’60s sitcom *Bewitched* is set to get a sparkling new reboot thanks to FOX and Sony Pictures Television, more than fifty years after the original show wrapped. This hour-long reimagining of *Bewitched* is helmed by writer and executive producer Judalina Neira, best known for her work on *The Boys* and *Daisy Jones and the Six*, alongside executive producer Doug Robinson.

According to Deadline, the “heartfelt” reboot will focus on the love story of Samantha and Darrin before the events of the original show unfold. “Though they come from two wildly different worlds—he’s a human, she’s a witch—for Samantha and Darrin, it’s love at first sight,” the outlet shared. “But in order to be together, they’ll have to navigate their disapproving parents, walk a tightrope of cultural clashes, and bridge the divides between their families and worlds.”

The original *Bewitched* ran for eight seasons from 1964 to 1972 on ABC and was created by Sol Saks. The series followed a beautiful housewife, Samantha (played by Elizabeth Montgomery), who happened to be a witch. She was married to Darrin, a normal man, and the show documented the chaos of their lives as Samantha balanced her magical powers with being a wife and mother.

Over the years, many attempts at reboots have been made, including a spinoff about their daughter, Tabitha, which aired on ABC in 1977. Currently, a live-action series focused on a pre-teen Tabitha is in the works, helmed by Sony Pictures Television Kids.

In addition to these projects, a notable *Bewitched* reboot was released in 2005 starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell. This film offered an unusual spin on the original story of Samantha and Darrin. The synopsis reads:

“Movie star Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell) has hit a rough patch in his career. Looking to make a comeback, he signs on to play the role of Darrin in a movie version of the popular 1960s sitcom *Bewitched*. Jack insists that an unknown is hired to play Darrin’s better half, the beguiling witch-housewife Samantha, so the studio finds an up-and-comer named Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman). Once shooting begins, though, Jack learns that Isabel was cast too well since she actually is a witch.”

Will Ferrell recently reflected on his time filming *Bewitched* during an interview with Stephen Colbert, who also appeared in the 2005 film.

“Nicole Kidman’s over there across the studio, and me and all the other people playing the writers are at video village ‘watching’ the first scene,” Stephen recalled. He then asked Will, “When the scene’s over, do you remember what you came and said to us? You came over because when the scene started and when [director Nora Ephron] said, ‘Action,’ we saw why Nicole Kidman was a movie star. The moment she called ‘Action,’ she flipped some switch. She became the most alluring and beautiful woman. She’s a beautiful woman, but something preternatural happened.”

Will continued, “You walked over and said, ‘I couldn’t remember any of my lines. I couldn’t get out of her eyes. What the just [expletive] just happened out there?’ And we all went, ‘I don’t know.'”

He joked, “It was like an alien being had come and told us ‘Everything’s going to be okay.'”

With fresh creative minds behind it and a focus on the heartfelt romance between Samantha and Darrin, this new *Bewitched* reboot looks set to enchant both longtime fans and new audiences alike. Stay tuned for more updates as the project develops.
https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/865433/iconic-60s-sitcom-bewitched-set-for-reboot-five-decades-later/

Only Reduced Food Stamps Benefits Will Be Issued, and May Take Months to Get To You

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Monday that it will pay about half of November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). However, the department warned that benefits could take months to flow to recipients. This update came in a brief submitted to a federal court in Rhode Island.

### Partial Payment Amid Shutdown

The USDA’s four-page report responded to U.S. District Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr.’s order. The judge instructed President Donald Trump’s administration to pay at least a portion of benefits to the 42 million people who receive SNAP assistance by the end of Wednesday, despite the ongoing government shutdown.

Notably, the USDA’s action did not clarify what would happen if the shutdown continues beyond November.

### Political Backlash

Leading Democrats in Congress sharply criticized the administration’s decision to pay only part of the monthly benefits. They accused President Trump of willfully denying food assistance to needy Americans.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said, “Providing partial benefits is not enough, is not compliant with the law, and it’s particularly cruel of Trump with the Thanksgiving season around the corner.”

### Judge’s Options and USDA’s Choice

On Saturday, Judge McConnell laid out two options for the administration:

– Pay partial benefits by the end of Wednesday using a contingency fund that currently has about $4.65 billion available.
– Pay full month benefits by utilizing other reserve sources, such as funds from the child nutrition program, by the end of Monday.

The USDA chose to use the contingency fund, giving the department until Wednesday to distribute benefits.

### Delays Expected in Benefit Distribution

Patrick A. Penn, USDA’s deputy under secretary for food, nutrition, and consumer services, noted that administrative hurdles in calculating and delivering half-month benefits could delay payments “anywhere from a few weeks to up to several months.”

According to the status report, USDA began the process of resuming payments on Monday to comply with Judge McConnell’s order. The report stated:

> “USDA will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds today by generating the table required for States to calculate the benefits available for each eligible household in that State. USDA will therefore have made the necessary funds available and have authorized the States to begin disbursements once the table is issued.”

### Challenges in Processing Payments

While Judge McConnell acknowledged that calculating reduced benefits would take time, giving USDA until Wednesday if choosing the partial funding route, Penn said this timeline was insufficient. Some states have outdated systems for processing benefits, contributing to delays.

The federal government planned to provide updated benefit tables by Monday. States then need to send updated files to vendors who process benefits and load funds onto beneficiaries’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards used for groceries.

### A Lengthy Shutdown

Monday marked the 34th day of the federal government shutdown, which began October 1 after Congress failed to approve funding or pass a temporary spending bill. The U.S. Senate was expected to hold another procedural vote to advance the House-passed GOP stopgap bill that would fund the government at fiscal 2025 levels through November 21.

Democrats have opposed this measure to push for negotiations on expiring tax credits for Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance buyers.

If the shutdown continued past Tuesday, it would tie the longest government shutdown in history, from 2018 to 2019.

### Contingency Fund Dispute

Before October ended, the administration had claimed it was legally barred from using the contingency fund, originally intended for natural disasters and emergencies, to pay SNAP benefits during the shutdown.

However, two federal judges ruled on October 31 that the USDA could and must use the fund to keep SNAP benefits flowing.

Saturday marked the first lapse in benefit payments since SNAP’s inception during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty.

Program advocates and experts warned that users would experience delays in receiving November benefits as the administration worked to restart payments.

### Funding and Spending Breakdown

Interestingly, this stance was a reversal from a USDA shutdown plan issued on September 30, which explicitly called for using the contingency fund to maintain benefits.

SNAP costs the federal government about $9 billion monthly. While USDA did not use the contingency fund to pay regular benefits, it spent approximately $750 million of the original $6 billion during October:

– $450 million for state administrative expenses
– $300 million for block grants to Puerto Rico and American Samoa

For November, USDA planned to spend $450 million on administrative expenses and $150 million for block grants, leaving about $4.65 billion available to pay benefits.

### Child Nutrition Funds Off-Limits

Deputy Under Secretary Penn also explained why USDA chose not to use funds from the child nutrition program to cover the SNAP shortfall, emphasizing the importance of preserving that fund.

> “Child Nutrition Program funds are not a contingency fund for SNAP,” he said. “Using billions of dollars from Child Nutrition for SNAP would leave an unprecedented gap in Child Nutrition funding that Congress has never had to fill with annual appropriations, and USDA cannot predict what Congress will do under these circumstances.”

The child nutrition program supports school meals, summer meals for children, and summer EBT benefits for low-income families. The school lunch program alone serves around 29 million children daily.

### Democratic Response: “Not Acceptable”

Democrats expressed dismay at the partial funding decision.

Senator Patty Murray of Washington state wrote on social media:

> “Just now paying the bare minimum to partially fund SNAP is not enough, and it is not acceptable. Trump should immediately work to fully fund benefits under the law.”

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking member of the House Appropriations panel, called the situation “entirely avoidable,” accusing Trump of using hungry children, seniors, and veterans as political pawns.

> “Now, only partial benefits will be sent out late, and families will go hungry, while this administration continues to host lavish parties for their billionaire donors and political allies,” DeLauro said.

She urged USDA to “put politics aside and use the money they have available to ensure families do not go hungry.”

### House Speaker Defends Administration

At a press conference Monday, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s handling of the SNAP payments.

He stated, “The president is desperate for SNAP benefits to flow to the American citizens who desperately rely upon it.”

Johnson echoed arguments by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that the agency was legally constrained from tapping the contingency fund if the underlying fund was suspended.

He blamed congressional Democrats for voting against the stopgap spending bill and noted that two judges who ordered payments to resume—Judge McConnell and Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts—were appointed by Democratic former President Barack Obama.

Judge Talwani ruled Friday that USDA’s pause on SNAP was illegal but gave the administration until Monday to respond before she considers forcing benefits to be paid despite the shutdown.

Johnson acknowledged the complexity of releasing funds:

> “It’s not as easy as hitting go on a computer. You’ve got to go through and recalculate partial payments to the 42 million recipients of the program. That puts a huge burden on states and on the feds to try to figure that out in short order.”

*Reporters: Jacob Fischler, Shauneen Miranda, Florida Phoenix.*
https://flaglerlive.com/only-reduced-food-stamps-benefits-will-be-issued-and-may-take-months-to-get-to-you/

One Piece season 3 taps award-winning Broadway star to play fan favorite theatrical assassin Mister 2

Broadway darling Cole Escola has been cast to play one of the most popular characters from *One Piece* in the upcoming third season of the Netflix series.

Fans of the hit anime and manga series are eagerly anticipating his performance as the show continues to bring beloved characters to life. With Cole Escola’s unique talent and charisma, season 3 promises to be an exciting continuation of the *One Piece* story.
https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/live-action-shows/one-piece-season-3-taps-award-winning-broadway-star-to-play-fan-favorite-theatrical-assassin-mister-2/

“I would rather tattoo my hairline” – Carmelo Anthony Pokes Fun at Jaylen Brown over Celtics Star’s Hairline Mishap Turning into Viral Meme

Former NBA star Carmelo Anthony recently shared his thoughts on Jaylen Brown’s ongoing hairline issues. Over the past few weeks, the Boston Celtics star has become somewhat of a meme after his spray-on hairline brushed off on OG Anunoby’s jersey. The occurrences didn’t stop there, as Brown’s hairline also rubbed off on Detroit Pistons’ Ron Holland.

Despite becoming a fan-favorite meme, Brown has remained a good sport about the situation. To address his hairline concerns, he even appeared live on Twitch last week alongside his barber to discuss potential solutions, including the possibility of traveling to Turkey for a hair transplant.

**Carmelo Anthony Reacts to Brown’s Hairline Drama**

On Monday’s episode of Anthony’s podcast, *7PM in Brooklyn*, the topic of Brown’s hairline came up again. The former Knicks star was surprised to learn not only about the incidents but also about Brown seeking advice from LeBron James regarding his hairline struggles.

During the podcast segment titled “F**k With It or F**k Out Here,” Anthony shared what he would do if faced with a similar problem. “I would rather do none of that s**t,” said Anthony (1:30:35). “But I would rather tattoo my hairline than use Bigen.” However, he didn’t dismiss the idea of a hair transplant, especially if Brown’s hairline problems were severe.

“If it’s that serious, I f**k with it,” Anthony added. “If you really feel the need to book a flight, go to Turkey, get your s**t hit up, I support you.”

**Carmelo Anthony Praises Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs**

In other NBA talk, Carmelo Anthony hyped up the San Antonio Spurs, who have been the biggest surprise team early in the 2025-2026 season. Currently sitting second in the Western Conference with a 5-1 record, the Spurs have impressed despite missing key starters De’Aaron Fox and Jeremy Sochan.

On his podcast, Melo was asked about how the team might look once Fox returns from injury. He believes the Spurs will become an even faster-paced, more dynamic unit.

“Dylan Harper goes to the bench, De’Aaron Fox steps in, and the same flow happens,” Anthony explained. “They actually gon’ be faster. They would be better. That tandem of Fox and Wemby in the pick-and-roll and any type of set that they have together.”

Anthony even predicted that the Spurs will be a playoff team this season, praising their strong start as a sign that postseason success is well within reach.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-i-rather-tattoo-hairline-carmelo-anthony-pokes-fun-jaylen-brown-celtics-star-s-hairline-mishap-turning-viral-meme

20 Great Rap Artists Who Never Had a Top 40 Hit

Last week, hip-hop made headlines for a dubious reason. For the first time in more than 35 years, no rap songs appeared in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 40. This came after “Luther,” Kendrick Lamar’s duet with SZA, was removed from the chart following the implementation of a new rule.

The news sparked dialogue about the lack of hits from rappers on the charts. Even with the dominant success of “Luther” — which spent 13 weeks at No. 1 — rap has had a shaky year commercially.

In some ways, the latest news gave rap doubters more ammunition for a sentiment that has been reoccurring since the end of the pandemic: that the genre is dying, being lapped by fresher, more global sounds like K-pop and Latin music. It’s unclear whether the past couple of years are an aberration or the new normal.

One thing that complicates this narrative is that, historically, the charts haven’t always been the most important factor in hip-hop. In fact, some of the greatest and most genre-defining rap songs of the past 50-plus years—everything from Nas’ “N. Y. State of Mind” to Rick Ross’ “B. M. F.”—were never Top 40 hits, even though those songs are synonymous with hip-hop and, in some cases, have earned plaques. (“N. Y. State of Mind” went gold, while “B. M. F.” went platinum.)

This applies to the artists themselves, too. Some of the greatest and most accomplished rap artists of all time have never had a Top 40 hit. (We’re focusing on the Top 40 because that’s traditionally been the distinction between a hit and a non-hit—a measure that goes back to the 1950s.)
https://www.complex.com/music/a/treyalston/20-rap-artists-who-never-had-a-top-40-hit

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