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*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Welcome to the month of June and to summer 2019 in MTV Reality, as well as to a calm before the storm of sorts after one of the most epic seasons ever of The Challenge, and ahead of the return of the show that started it all and a new take of finding love in perfect matches.
When we began the countdown to it back in January, War of the Worlds sought to give fans who were fed up with trilogy of the three seasons that succeeded it an opportunity to win them back, all after the drama of Dirty 30, Vendettas and Final Reckoning and the tumultuous end to that saga in Ashley stealing $1 million. A group of those time-tested veterans and those who joined this world in the past year got to meet up with reality stars from all over the world for the first truly global season of The Challenge that helped to give the show we love a much-needed shot in the arm with a return to where the focus should be: the competition. And from the shock exits of the big names to the emergence of new stars who've now conquered America, it sure was a season to remember.
In perhaps the hardest and most epic final The Challenge has ever had, eight worthy competitors played their way into the two-day marathon for a share of $1 million... in the end, it was Turkish reality superstar Turabi Çamkıran, better known as "Turbo," who outlasted Theo, Wes, Ninja, Cara Maria, Hunter, Mattie and Georgia to add more to his growing legend in the global reality space in adding a $750,000 check - a staggering ₺4.56 million in the Turkish currency of Iira - to having won back-to-back titles of being Sole Survivor on his country's iteration of Survivor. And considering how recent Challenge champs have been competitors with at least some degree of questionable behavior, Turbo's victory is just as celebrated as when C.T. won the first of his two Challenges six years ago.
All that is left to do on War of the Worlds is a two-hour discussion of the season's events as most of the vets and prospects will gather one more time for the Reunion, taking place for the first time outside the U.S. in the grand city of London, and hosted by Champs vs. Pros/Stars emcee and soon to be new dad Mike "The Miz" Mizanin and a star of that trilogy, Olympian & Celeb Big Brother 2 houseguest Lolo Jones. From betrayal and gameplay to hookups and scandals, all will be revealed... the action, reaction and interaction is ahead, along with a trip to the tattoo parlor. Join us there.
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Back in early February, just after a snoozer of a Super Bowl in another Patriots title, MTV's The Challenge set off on starting both a new year and a new era anew after an agonizing long year & a half's trilogy. War of the Worlds brought together top Challengers we've known for a long time with those from outside the MTV Reality community and the United States for a Challenge season unlike any other. And after a season that seems to have breezed by quite a bit compared to last season - and with unpredictability sending home the big name veterans earlier than planned, destiny awaits our finalists at the start of summer.
Cara Maria, Georgia, Hunter, Mattie, Ninja, Theo, Turbo and Wes were worthy finalists who more than proved themselves to make it all the way to the end for a shot at a share of $1 million, and when we were last in Namibia they had completed a one- to two-day's worth of work in the scorching heat of the desert: a 50-mile trek that began with them doing several laps of running and bicycling with puzzle stations in between in just that first day alone. When you have all of those ingredients, not everyone will make it out alive - at least as the game is concerned... and Georgia and Mattie succumbed to the pressure when they were eliminated, and Ninja almost bit the dust as well. That explains why things have stepped up for this final much to everyone's excitement, and it's only day 1.
At the end of the first half, Theo, Wes and Turbo finished in the top three and TJ Lavin made them the trifecta for one last Tribunal... one last twist to a season that's had it all. This week, they will determine who in the bottom three will they bring with them to Day 2 and which two will have to face each other to advance on. Then, all that's left is one more trip around the same dunes in this corner of southern Africa that saw Zach win his lone Challenge as a rookie, then a trip to the beach where the money will await them after battles with brains, food and brawn. They will determine who wins it all... and only the top three will cash... with $750,000 going to the champion in a final that, once again, is a cumulative timed final, with #1 not necessarily going to who crosses the line first.
After the events of last year, will Hunter write his ultimate redemption story? Will Cara or Wes become immortals with their third Challenge title? Or will a rookie follow in Thor's footsteps and become a champ in their first try? The answers will unfold after the jump on the SocialPulse of Day 2 of The Challenge: War of the Worlds Final. We're so glad you're with us here on this Memorial Day.
Happy Memorial Day to all of you in blog land, and as we celebrate summer in America, the end is just about here for MTV's The Challenge: War of the Worlds. As far as we see it here, the Final in Namibia has already had plenty of drama taking place, and all that's left is a final Tribunal and an in-final elimination before the final exam continues along towards crowning a champion.
The 'Pulse of Part 2 of the finale comes your way here in just a bit, where by the time we're done with that we'll see who wins the whole thing. But for the time being, enjoy the in-between chatter in the MTV Reality community from before the finale, which also includes the Game of Thrones series finale, anticipation for the vets making a one-night-only return, and much more. And afterwards, more on a big summer happening taking place in just a few weeks... that's all ahead here.
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
This is Memorial Day Weekend, and these are the three days that, in the minds of so many, officially begin summer in America. And as hundreds of thousands are gathering in Indianapolis this weekend for the biggest and most prestigious event in American open-wheel racing in the Indianapolis 500 - while others are in Monte Carlo for the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco and NASCAR fans are gathering in Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600, Season 33 of what's acknowledged by many the fifth major pro sport known at MTV's The Challenge has reached the starting line for the final challenge of War of the Worlds in Namibia.
When we last southwestern Africa, the last challenge before the final took place with the eight competitors who did not place first in the previous week's competition being given one last shot to earn their way into the final with one final purge to join Cara Maria and Turbo. The man who's made plenty of headlines in the past thirteen months, Paulie, opted to risk his body before the final by going all out in an over-water obstacle course... and he paid a big price by not making the final at all. Wes, Theo and Hunter made it through ahead of him by playing it safe, while the only real battle existed among the ladies: despite encountering a seal, Mattie made the final to join Georgia and Ninja and sending home Da'Vonne after she took out Dee in the last Killing Floor elimination.
The final challenge of any Challenge season is one that combines endurance, toughness, brains and every kind of emotion you can think of to produce a hour or two of compelling television that almost always has everyone talking long after TJ Lavin hands out the money and announces who wins it all. That has not been the case in a while on this show, especially after what we saw last year on Final Reckoning even before Ashley M. stealing all of Hunter's money. That won't the case this time around, as the finalists will find themselves tackling one of the hardest finals in Challenge history right in the heart of the desert, where a 50-mile journey - almost two full marathons back to back - will await them in day 1 alone... and thanks to a never-before-seen twist that goes down at day's end and the toughness of this exam, not everyone will make it out at the halfway point.
As it was for Free Agents, Invasion of the Champions, Dirty 30 and Final Reckoning, this War of the Worlds final is a cycling-style cumulative timed final being conducted over multiple stages and over two days. The winner of this season - and who places 2nd, 3rd and so on down the line - will be determined just like in the Tour de France: whoever clocks in the lowest cumulative time will win, and only those who are in the top three of the eight will cash. And as it was on Vendettas, this is a solo competitor, gender-neural final challenge, where the champion will pocket a first place check of $750,000, second place winning $200,000 and the bronze medalist earns $50,000.
So, welcome on in: it's the finale of War of the Worlds... all ahead on the SocialPulse of The MTV Challenge at DCBLOG. We're glad you're with us...
Happy Memorial Day weekend to all of you in blog land, and here at the spiritual beginning of summer, we are almost at the end of Season 33 of MTV's The Challenge. And War of the Worlds in Namibia is on the edge of kicking off the final challenge with a prize pool of $1 million going to whoever survives one last battle in the desert.
We'll have the 'Pulse of Part 1 of the finale coming up a little bit later, to then be followed by this week's Part 2 where the loot will be handed out. But before all that, indulge yourself in the in-between chatter in the MTV Reality community before we post that then, plus we'll look at a Memorial Day Weekend wipeout... that's all ahead.
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
We've arrived at the weekend, one which was anticipated for the fact that golf's second major was to have featured Tiger Woods in contention after his celebrated Masters triumph, and for public anticipation to have our third Triple Crown winner in five years. Instead, the man in the Sunday red did not make the cut at the PGA Championship in New York, and horse racing is still shook after Maximum Security's shock DQ that marred this year's Kentucky Derby. But nonetheless, the sports calendar rolls along with soccer's FA Cup Final, heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder having just scored a 1st Round KO tonight, and the NBA and NHL conference finals going along.
And as far as competition goes in the fifth major pro sport is concerned, we are almost at the end of Season 33 of The Challenge, as War of the Worlds is playing down towards its $1 million final. And when we last left Namibia -- that is, at the end of Week 13, the serious business began for the twelve competitors remaining in the game, as Paulie opted to not put himself into elimination against arch nemesis Kyle and instead gave it to fellow Brit Theo in the latest incarnation of Hall Brawl, which saw the sprinter turned Love Islander take out the win. And TJ Lavin donned a pilot's outfit for a scary challenge aboard a plane that saw them go upside down and all around, which saw Cara Maria and Turbo clinch berths in the final challenge.
Turbo also had a hand in helping to choose who goes into, what turns out to be, our last visit to the killing floor, and this week sees who faces who in the season's last elimination, which is an all-female affair... and if what happened over a week ago is a sign, he'll likely put a Ninja Warrior or a lady from Down Under in. Whoever emerges out of that battle will join the rest of the field, sans Cara and Turbo, for the last regular challenge before the final, which we here at DCBLOG like to refer to as, "the semifinal." And it is a Purge: whoever falls short in a daunting obstacle course over the water will not make it to the final... and it's what happens with one of the players deciding to go all in this close to the final that will either make or break their chance at the cash.
It's "Judgement Day" for Da'Vonne, Dee, Georgia, Hunter, Mattie, Paulie and Theo as they face the last two hurdles en route to the final of War of the Worlds... that is all ahead on the Pulse of The Challenge on DCBLOG. Happy Saturday...
We are almost at the weekend, and we at DCBLOG are hope you're enjoying this last full week before summer arrives. We're still catching up on The Challenge: War of the Worlds as our signature Pulse diaries go, and after the jump we'll have the interaction leading into Episode 14 of Season 33 of the big show, and something that we here like to refer to as The Semifinal. That is, the last competition before the main event of the final challenge, and $1 million on the line. We'll have our view of the last challenge before the marathon that decides things tomorrow to begin your weekend.
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Welcome back friends... we hope you got to enjoy your Mother's Day Sunday with your moms everywhere, and if you're a mom - we wish you a late, but better late than never, Mother's Day to all of you. On the competition front, we saw Manchester City hang on over Liverpool to win the Premier League and cap off an incredible week for English football, while on a Sunday of Game 7's in the NBA Playoffs, we're all still buzzing about Kwahi Leonard's buzzer-beater to send Toronto into a frenzy - the first walkoff in a series decider since "The Shot" by Michael Jordan 30 years ago.
As far as the fifth major pro sport is concerned, we are in the business stretch of a season of The Challenge that, thanks to it being shorter in length than Final Reckoning, has breezed by fairly quickly. And last we left War of the Worlds - earlier this weekend as we measure our time here, things began to get serious for the competitors as they encountered their toughest challenge yet, and the one that will usually tell us who has a serious chance at the cash: a endurance mission. The effects of that demanding task saw Turbo and Ninja & Dee get into a big argument and Hunter threaten to quit... but it's what happened in the preceding elimination that had everyone talking: Georgia beating Nany in a chair-based Killing Floor that had viewers crying foul.
But, there is one elimination that everyone loves and craves more than any other: players strapping on an American football helmet, crashing into each other inside a narrow hallway and trying to ring a bell located at the other side of the playing surface. That's what will go down this week for the season's penultimate trip into the Killing Floor, as one man will decide whether or not to risk it all in settling a feud spurred on by his power player girlfriend. Then, the competitors will board Challenge Airways -- with TJ Lavin as a pilot -- as they'll have to handle their worst fears for a plane ride like no other. And for a new rivalry that's affected three continents, a chance to right some wrongs as the players inch closer to the final - for which the week's top two competitors earn a bye to the final.
After the jump, "Final Destination" awaits the players left in the running for $1 million as we bring you Week 13 of War of the Worlds on this backtracked Challenge SocialPulse. And thanks for staying up for us tonight and wrapping up this amazing weekend with DCBLOG.
Good Sunday Funday, hope you got to enjoy this Mother's Day with everyone you love including the most important lady in your lives. We continue to catch up on matters relating to The Challenge: War of the Worlds as far as our signature Pulse diaries are concerned, and after the jump it's the interaction leading into Episode 13 of this season, with Hall Brawl and a host donning a pilot's uniform, which means we have some turbulence coming for the challengers left to dispute their claim to be in the final. Our view of the Quarterfinal comes up in just a bit -- that is, if you're still up, but until then, here's some in-between interaction leading into the week before last.
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
We have made it to Friday and Mother's Day weekend... and as decision day awaits a handful of NBA teams and both Manchester City and Liverpool in the Premier League after a most momentous week for English football in European action, things are getting into serious on The Challenge, as the British invasion of America's fifth major pro sport rolls along on War of the Worlds.
Please note that we've been delaying our episode social diaries for the sake of the section of our readership who prefer to watch the episodes later rather than live. But as we left things off at the end of what was Week 11, the players were getting used to playing for themselves and they went for a ride in the desert completing puzzles while sitting atop a moving car in the sand. Wes devised his latest plan to shake up the game as only he knows best, while Nany got to read out Cara Maria in heated verbal warfare, all ahead of the first female solo elimination.
In the end, Georgia was picked by the jury to go into the killing floor, and after she had a hand in taking down a big fish in the pond earlier on she will meet whoever gets chosen to go up in an elimination that, shall we say, will prove anything is possible even when you don't have the budget to see these ladies go one on one in the manner we expect. The players will then pair up once again for a demanding finals preview, where it's what happens there that will create surprise rivalries, cause one player to threaten to quit, and another to debate taking a big gamble.
Just ahead, DCBLOG brings you another Backtracked installment of The Challenge SocialPulse, as things get "Lost in Translation" in Africa. And, welcome to the weekend everyone...
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Welcome to the month of May and to this month's first Friday where a big sporting weekend is ahead of us. Fans of horse racing and those across America are heading to Big Easy's part of the world of Louisville for the annual gathering known as the Kentucky Derby, while fight fans and those who bleed Mexican red, white & green are en route for Las Vegas to see Canelo Alvarez face Daniel Jacobs on Cinco De Mayo weekend. And for fans of the beautiful game and those in Britain who are now getting to see what here in America have been seeing all winter & spring: Manchester City and Liverpool have their penultimate game of the 2018-19 Premier League season as they chase the title of champions of English football.
And as the NBA and NHL seasons are into their playoffs as well, things are also getting into the business end of the season on MTV's The Challenge: War of the Worlds, as we now bring you the Pulse of the most recent episodes. Don't adjust your sets... we took two weeks off from doing the Pulse posts for the reason that these recent episodes have cliffhangers at the end, and for the sake of the section of our viewing audience who prefer to binge the episodes instead of watching them live, we've tabled covering the action, reaction and interaction of the episodes to a few weeks after their airings, plus to allow our ExtraTime storytelling to take center stage in the time in between. So if you're just catching up, we've saved this seat for you to join us here.
When we did our last Pulse post for Episode 10 a few weeks back, the second half of the season began for the fourteen competitors who remained after Kam got her first elimination L in a regular Challenge elimination. That was when TJ Lavin dropped a Teej-bomb on them that the rest of the season would become an individual affair, and it didn't take long for the tempers to flare between the fiery one of the Young Bucks, Hunter, and the one everyone is stanning here, Turbo. They and the rest of the players went through hurricane-force winds for their first challenge where they have just themselves to watch out for, and trivia settled the first solo elimination when Bear finally succumbed in the first of what will sure be many seasons of him on American TV.
As things now get into the business of this being a solo game, Week 11 of this will see the two people who returned from three years away following them being on Rivals III, and will tell us if they have not lost a step of two. For the political mastermind who also has an adorable dog, it's the ginger man who unleashes his latest plan that will sure to shake up the players left in the desert. And for his partner of back in summer 2016, someone who we grew to love during her previous time on MTV will finally get to speak on behalf of the rest of the fandom and read out the strongest lady on paper going into here. And no Challenge would be without a challenge, as the players will pretend that they're going onto Game of Thrones, and compete a puzzle along the "Highway to Hell."
So, we welcome on in to the first of a couple (or perhaps, more) Backtracked installments of the DCBLOG Challenge SocialPulse, as we begin to play our way towards the $1 million final on War of the Worlds. And thanks for staying patient with us, but you'll be rewarded after the jump. But most importantly, welcome to the weekend...
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language and objectionable content. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its long length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Hey there, we're at the weekend and spring is definitely in the air. We're past the halfway point of The Challenge: War of the Worlds, and things are now an individual matter from here on out with the season to crown, as it was a year ago at this time, one gender-neutral champion and two runners-up who will share in the $1 million prize pool when this is all done.
Along with being at halfway through the season being taken care of, there is also something that takes place around this time: the filming of the reunion for this Challenge season, which for the first time will not take place in MTV's seat of government in New York City, but outside the United States in the historic yet vibrant city of London, England in the United Kingdom. That's the focus of this installment of the Pulse Extra as we'll be following the cast in Britain meeting up for the reunion which comes our way at season's end.
But there is something different we're currently doing for this section in getting this spring cycle started in going Inside MTV Reality... we at DCBLOG will explain that afterwards. For now, indulge yourself in the in-between interaction between the first episode of the individual phase of the season and the episode that aired just before last week's. See you after the jump...
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Well, hey there kiddos... hope you all are fully recovered from what was an epic weekend with Tiger Woods' Masters win, the Game of Thrones premiere, the Coachella festival and much more, and Easter is upon us. And as far as the fifth major pro sport is concerned, the second half is underway on The Challenge: War of the Worlds.
Previously in Namibia, the eight teams that were left at the midway point of this season, always indicated by the midseason trailer that airs halfway through the proceedings... and they encountered another moving challenge in the desert... this time, they sped their way on moving trucks while also moving rings around. A person who will we will soon settle a beef in front of the man well known for announcing results of paternity tests turned himself into a Dr. Phil for a moment when Hunter looked to Wes for teams therapy. And in the week's elimination, Da'Vonne & Bear took out the win and handed Kam her first loss in a regular win or go home battle, after losing to Brooke Hogan last year.
Last year's trilogy and Invasion of the Champions were individual-based, where one person would rule the world by season's end. At the end of last week, the group was informed in the most Challenge of ways -- a Teej-Bomb by TJ Lavin -- that they would be competing as individuals the rest of the way. It's with that in mind that this week, the fourteen contestants left will begin the back-end of this season having to readjust their strategies while also enduring a hurricane for their first individual game. Plus, tempers will flare with a couple players, and the return of everyone's favorite game of trivia which will have a role in sending home our first solo competitor, rather than pair of them.
All those and all the action, reaction and interaction is ahead on the Pulse of War of the Worlds, as we prepare for tonight... join in after the jump.
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Hello and welcome along... as I do what I can to get things back to normalcy after last week's events, something I've always looked to as an escape during tough times in doing what I do best becomes more important than ever, especially now. For this instance, DCBLOG will proceed as usual with the business at hand in covering last week's episodes and other matters, all as best I can and at the level of excellence you come to expect... and a bit later than planned but better late than never.
The Challenge: War of the Worlds has certainly been offering the goods, and previously in Africa we saw the continuation of the emergence onto the American scene of one Bear, when his call back home to his girlfriend back home saw him suddenly encounter a row (British slang for a rift) with Georgia. She would also find herself in more drama with her partner Hunter, with memories of what befell him last fall is still very much fresh and still hasn't gotten over that. But the MVP of Week 8 was Dee, when she overcame her fear of the water to rule that week's challenge with Wes, while in the latest installment of the classic elimination game Pole Wrestle, Team Mama Bear prevailed.
Last week for the eight teams remaining, they will encounter the challenge that, if you saw the first peeks at this season back in January, will see them move along at 55 MPH jumping between speeding trucks and having to use precision and rings to get them through their latest challenge at hand. For the latest turbulent team to emerge in Africa, someone who got hitched last year suddenly takes on the role of being Dr. Phil to his best friend here. And for the week's elimination, teams will have to go around in circles and complete a puzzle to survive and advance along into the lucky seven, where by night's end TJ Lavin will drop his latest Teej-Bomb on the house.
You'll find out what that bomb is after the jump as DCBLOG brings you the Pulse of Week 9 of The Challenge: War of the Worlds, before things get real interesting in a matter of hours from now. Also, reaction to the death of Nipsey Hustle - which we featured Dee meeting him years ago, and Being Cory - a look into our favorite Challenger turned Dad on Teen Mom. Enjoy...
Last weekend saw an unspeakable tragedy strike the hip-hop community, one that once again saw a gunman's bullet cut short the life of a rap icon. But unlike what happened last year to XXXTentacion when he was on the brink of something big, the person whose life suddenly ended by an untimely murder was a 10-year veteran who had just seen his hard work and his many years in the genre finally pay off.
Nipsey Hussle entered the rap game as a 20-year-old in 2005 when he dropped his first mixtape, followed by two more EP's three years later after he signed his first major label record deal with Epic Records. The son of parents of mixed Eritrean and American heritage known to them as Ermias Asghedom adopted a stage name based on actor and a judge on '90s MTV game show, Lip Service, Nipsey Russell, and in 2009 released not only another mixtape but also his debut track, "Hussle in the House." Collaborations with Drake and Snoop Dogg, and a spot in the 2010 remake of the iconic charitable anthem "We Are The World" would soon follow, landing Nipsey on XXL Magazine's Annual Freshmen Top Ten list of the hip-hop publication's class of rising stars.
Everyone was anxious for his debut album, South Central State of Mind, to take flight in the fall of 2010 and for him to take that next stop to stardom, but that was then nixed by issues with Michael Jackson's former label where he left before it dropped in stores. Hussle would then turn back to working on his own in the interim, forming his own indie label All Money In, and releasing two mixtapes and a collaborative album with guest spots from YG, MGMT and Dom Kennedy. A 2012 single release, "Proud of That" with Rick Ross followed along with more singles and EP's.
Along the way, Nipsey decided that just being an indie rapper was the best strategy, rather than sign with a major label... and with being able to do it all by himself saw him release 1,000 hard copies of one of his mixtapes for $100 a pop, and it was all gone in only 24 hours... giving him a $100,000 payday. His debut album, Victory Lap, had planned on being released in 2014, but it would not be until he had released several more mixtapes and singles -- plus a track criticizing the President after Hussle's own positive experiences with Mexican immigrants before talk of a wall was even possible -- that the album would finally see the light of day. Victory Lap debuted in the Billboard Top 5 in mid-February 2018, and featured collaborations with Puff Daddy, Kendrick Lamar, Cee-Lo, The Dream and longtime collaborator YG. It received critical acclaim when it was released in being an album that Hot New Hip Hop wrote, "...toes the line between classic and contemporary hip-hop. It captures the emotion of now, this victorious moment for Hussle, while still pushing for the permanence of a hip-hop classic. The production is masterful, the features are well-placed, and Nipsey raps like he just won a marathon. The race for the victory paid off,"... one for which earned him a Grammy nomination this year for Best Rap Album.
During the time of label uncertainty, Hussle would find love when he began to date Lauren London, and in summer 2016 they welcomed their first child together, joining a family including kids from past relationships including those from her romance with Lil Wayne. Also that year, he invested time into his new clothing line Marathon Clothing, while he also became an icon to both the Los Angeles community and the hip-hop world in spreading positivity.
Last weekend, Hussle had dinner with family and friends at the same restaurant as Bad Girls Club icon Danni Victor, who also appeared on a Teen Mom: Being special featuring MTV Reality icon Cory Wharton when she went off on him at a birthday party. Danni tweeted @IamDanniV, "He was humble, kind, and quiet," and who had planned to meet officials at the LA Police Department and Roc Nation on Monday on gang violence prevention in South Los Angeles. But there was no hint on that Saturday night that it would be the last supper he would ever have with those around him, and that meeting would never take place.
The next day - Sunday, March 31st, Hussle was checking out his Marathon Clothing store in South L.A. and was in the parking lot getting ready to go somewhere else when shots started to ring out. At just before 3:30pm, he was shot six times, five in the torso and another on target to his head, while two others were also wounded. But upon the arrival of the three victims at a local hospital at 3:55pm local time, Hussle was pronounced dead at the young age of 33. It was on Monday that authorities identified 29-year-old Eric Holder as the prime suspect, and while he was known to the rapper investigators think that the shooting was likely motivated by a personal matter. On Tuesday, the LAPD captured Holder a day after after shots again were fired during a candlelight vigil for Hussle, and today the shooter plead not guilty as he was held on $5 million bail in court.
Reaction to Nipsey's death was both immediate and widespread as the world's top-trending topic last Sunday, and so many people both in and outside the hip-hop circle have shared their memories of getting to meet Nipsey in the days since that devastating tragedy, and or how they were touched by his music. Simply scroll through your feed on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and beyond from this past week, and you can't go anywhere without someone paying tribute to him or making a mention of Hustle... a sign of how so many were affected by the shootings.
By now, everyone has seen Lauren London's painful tribute to her late boyfriend on Instagram, the same platform where she and Nipsey first connected five years ago. She would write in that first public statement after the shooting, "I am completely lost. I've lost my best friend, my sanctuary, my protector, my soul.... I'm lost without you. We are lost without you babe. I have no words." And those like Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, Tyrese and Kimora Lee Simmons have sent messages of prayer to her in a photo montage of them and their baby that has gotten 5 million likes since Tuesday.
Another of those Nipsey got to cross paths with was Dee Nguyen from The Challenge: War of the Worlds, who first appeared to MTV fans outside the United States on Series 17 of Geordie Shore, U.K. version of Jersey Shore, when it flew down to her home country and city of Sydney, Australia, and who then paired up with 2-time champ and many years' veteran of the show, Wes Bergmann. It was just in last week's episode that she overcame her fear of swimming to finish first among all the teams, as they progressed towards the season's midway point en route to $1 million by season's end.
Three years before in 2016 while on a holiday trip to Los Angeles, Dee got to meet him outside a pizza eatery at Melrose Place in West Hollywood, and after the shooting that took place Monday morning in Australia, she shared it with her Instagram followers. She told an Instagram user, "I remember him being so happy that I was from Australia and asked me if I wanted a photo with him because it was awesome that he had a fan that was so far away 😔." And she captioned in that photo below, "Thank you for blessing us with your music. I still remember this day so clearly, how you took the time to chat to me and get to know me even though you had people waiting for you. So thankful I had the opportunity to meet you. RIP you legend. #nipseyhussle"
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Hey there, it's the last day of March and a Sunday Funday... and we at DCBLOG have a treat for you here: three posts from the world of MTV Reality, including a drama-filled finale from that paradise in the Mediterranean known as the Lohan Beach Club. But first, we are right at the halfway point of the season of a show that, thanks to its move to Hump Day (and though it's not our thing to mention anything related to the numbers game of TV viewership), has those who air at the midway point of the weekly primetime TV schedule, 9PM on Wednesday nights, wondering where the viewers have gone. They're enjoying that thing on MTV known as The Challenge: War of the Worlds.
Last week, the competitors tackled their first challenge involving anything related to their fear of heights while being blindfolded hundreds of feet above in a game of trust. At the same time, those who came from the U.S. began to realize that the British have been dominating this game and will continue to align themselves to each other as long as this goes on. And an uphill survival test in elimination went down to mere inches: a last-second mistake by Josh and Amanda cost them a chance to give Kam her earliest Challenge exit, and Killa Kam and Ashley C. turned that miscue into her seventh win in a regular elimination tilt.
As we return to Namibia, for our overseas friends the competitor with the biggest notoriety coming into his American debut will find himself again in the midst of the drama going on here that, thanks to a call, will put Mr. Bear in a precarious spot. For the season's first water-based challenge, a person who comes from the world's only continent surrounded entirely by water will have to conquer a phobia of competing in the water if they want to retain top team status. And more drama is abound for the man whose behavior last season cost him his share of $1 million, while whoever gets picked to go to elimination will have to tackle a classic game of pole wrestle to make it to the halfway mark.
All that and more is ahead on the Pulse of Week 8 of The Challenge: War of the Worlds. Welcome on in... it's nice to have you with us.
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
This is Spring Break Week in the land of MTV world, as this week sees a finale, a reunion and fireworks aplenty in the channel's reality programming. But amidst the sun & fun, let us a DCBLOG bring you the 'Pulse of the most recent episode of The Challenge: War of the Worlds...
When we were last in Africa, the competitors channeled their own Mad Max hanging on a wire of moving tires in the desert, and where the vets again reaffirmed their flag in the ground. We also had an opportunity to find out more about Kam and Leroy's relationship as she began to lay her eyes on Love Islander Theo, especially after the Vegas barber man may have seen his last Challenge chance slip by. And the man who hasn't had the opportunity to stake his claim to the title of the master manipulator to a bunch of newbies had the opportunity to destroy the British alliance.
And after what we saw with Da'Vonne and Bear winning in elimination, in Week 7 the attention turns for Team USA towards Team GB and the alliance the British have which they fear is getting too strong. It all comes as the fears the competitors have each season of being hundreds of feet above ground takes place as those scaries are being put to the test as the team are being blindfolded. And while one player reveals an attraction to their teammate, by night's end we'll be nearing the halfway point once the combatants in elimination face an uphill battle for survival.
After the jump, the Pulse of last week's episode of The Challenge: War of the Worlds before an all new episode airs in a few hours' time.
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Welcome back... hope you had an awesome St. Patrick's Day. Now, as we wind down this year's festival of green, Irish love and plenty of day & night drinking -- as well as college hoops and golf mixed in, there have been plenty of English accents on order in the past year on The Challenge, and War of the Worlds is no exception with several more of them dominating the first month.
Last week in Namibia saw one of those from the British isles take over the spotlight: Bear was reportedly paid in the six figures to take his talents to America, but if what happened in the demanding "Tired Out" challenge was an indication in joining TJ Lavin's dreaded quit list and him igniting the tribunal, undoubtedly he may be in for a long ride in conquering America. We also saw the Paulie & Kyle feud add another chapter to its book, while Wes returned to the winners' circle of a regular elimination in his 14th win there, 19th overall factoring in Champs/Stars.
For this week, the week's challenge sees the competitors channel their own Mad Max as they try to hang on for dear life climbing tires on a moving monster truck in the desert for "Doom Buggy." Meanwhile, a girl will have the opportunity to finally address a relationship we haven't heard much about until now with a 10-time Challenge veteran, all as she eyes someone new in the house, and before she goes for love again on a third MTV series which we'll delve into later. And the Master Manipulator tries his hand at destroying an alliance and also potentially breaking up a couple.
After the jump, Week 6 of War of the Worlds. Thanks for staying with us...
*** Advisory: DC SocialPulse contains adult language, objectionable content & spoilers for some readers. Viewer Discretion is Advised. Due to its length, take frequent eye breaks if you're reading this top to bottom. ***
Well hey there kids, hope you all are hanging in there with the first few days of Daylight Savings Time. And after a jaw-dropping first month that saw past champions get eliminated early like what we'll be having soon enough with March Madness, The Challenge: War of the Worlds has proven that anything can happen... and last week was no exception.
There in Namibia, a favorite challenge of every season saw players wipe out and take tragic slams while also battling heights hundreds of feet above ground... it was no surprise that this was a mission that saw this season's Ninja treat this death-defying task as her own playground. Meanwhile the Kyle and Paulie rivalry rolled along, while a double elimination shocked everyone in the battle to stay in the game, and in the case of the vets, trying to keep a sinking boat of experienced doyens afloat. But it was Kyle & Mattie that sent home CT & Julia and Natalie & JP in the end.
To become a Challenge champion, two things are necessary if you make it all the way to the final: stamina and endurance. That's what's on tap for Week 5, as the war is on not just among teams, but even allies for the "Tired Out" challenge... and if there's a reel of what you can't do in front of TJ Lavin, someone will join the list of those who quit and will feel his heat. There's also tension brewing inside the Tribunal courtroom where, THAT man will add to his list of memorable reality moments that we in America haven't seen. And the week's elimination will see teams battle in the dark.
After the jump, the SocialPulse of last week's episode of War of the Worlds before this week's drama goes down tonight... plus, a little note from yours truly on something coming soon. Dig in...
