Ice Cube's BIG3 League Makes International Push With 2023 London Championship

BIG3 Basketball has announced its postseason cities and dates for the 2023 season, which will include the return of the BIG3 All-Star Game and the league's first-ever European game.

The three-on-three professional basketball league, founded by rapper Ice Cube in 2017, has expanded to include more international events and is poised to attract an even bigger audience.

The BIG3 playoffs will take place in three cities across the United States, starting with the first round in Miami on August 12. The second round will be held in Dallas on August 19, and the championship game will be played in Chicago on September 2.

Washington, D.C. for the @thebig3 Playoffs & London for the BIG3 Championship 🔥 #SummerOfFire pic.twitter.com/8R9CZcroJW

— Ice Cube (@icecube) May 12, 2023

In addition to the playoffs, the BIG3 will host its All-Star Game in London on August 26, marking the league's first-ever game in Europe. Ice Cube hopes to attract British sports and music stars to the event, along with basketball legends such as Julius "Dr J" Erving and Clyde "the Glide" Drexler.

"We want it to be star-studded. We want it to be the place to be in London on August 26," Ice Cube said in an exclusive interview with The Sun. "Maybe the King might pop through and check it out, you never know!"

The BIG3 has grown in popularity in recent years, with a growing European presence and plans to expand even further. Ice Cube and his business partner Jeff Kwatinetz are currently in the process of selling BIG3 teams to outside investors, which will allow the league to pivot to a franchise model.

Ice Cube also hopes to create a World Cup-style event for the professional game, called the "Big Cup," where countries put their best players together to compete at the highest level. "Our dream is to see the BIG3 in most of the countries around the world playing hoops," he said.

Beyoncé Kicks Off First Tour in Over Four Years With a Three-Hour Extravaganza

The iconic cover of Beyoncé's "Renaissance" album.

Beyoncé kicked off her first tour in over four years today at Stockholm's Friends Arena, delivering an unforgettable performance that included live debuts of several tracks from her Grammy-winning album, "Renaissance."

🪩 | Beyoncé opens the #RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR with Dangerously In Love pic.twitter.com/2yO7MC7SR9

— Beyoncé Press. 🪩 | Fan Account (@beyoncepress) May 10, 2023

The superstar took to the stage without an opening act, allowing fans to get straight to the main event, a three-hour extravaganza filled with high-energy dance routines and breathtaking visuals, as chronicled by the fans and media in attendance on the internet.

Beyoncé transforms her dress with UV light during the Renaissance World Tour. pic.twitter.com/7ljjC964nu

— Pop Base (@PopBase) May 10, 2023

The setlist for the evening featured a mix of classics and new tracks, including "Dangerously in Love," "Flaws and All," "7/11," "Run the World (Girls)," "Black Parade" and "Summer Renaissance." Beyoncé also performed for the very first time on stage "Break My Soul," "Virgo's Groove," "Cuff It" and other tracks from the "Renaissance" album.

One of the most memorable moments of the show was the closing performance of "Summer Renaissance," when Beyoncé rode atop a flying disco horse.

beyonce flying with her horse for summer renaissance 🤯 pic.twitter.com/TyAF2T3vpa

— Renaissance Tour (@bestofrwt) May 10, 2023

The tour continues tomorrow with a second night in Stockholm before heading to North America, with the first stop in Toronto on July 8. It includes stops at more than 50 cities, including London, New York City, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE World Tour is next level#RWT2023

pic.twitter.com/S0zMISc93e

— RENAISSANCE Updates🪩 (@B7Album) May 10, 2023

According to Forbes, Beyoncé's latest global trek could out-earn Taylor Swift's ongoing Eras Tour by a whopping $500 million, with an estimated gross of nearly $2.1 billion, which would make it the most successful concert series of all time.

"Renaissance," which was released last July, won Beyoncé a record-breaking four Grammy Awards, including Best Dance/Electronic Recording, Best Traditional R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best Dance/Electronic Music Album. With these accolades, Beyoncé is now the most decorated artist in Grammys history.

Check out the setlist from her opening night below:

1. Dangerously in Love
2. Flaws and All
3. 1+1 / I'd Rather Go Blind / I'm Going Down
4. I Care
5. I'm That Girl
6. Cozy
7. Alien Superstar / Sweet Dreams
8. Lift Off
9. 7/11
10. Cuff It
11. Energy
12. Break My Soul
13. Formation
14. Diva
15. Run the World (Girls)
16. My Power
17. Black Parade
18. Savage (Remix)
19. Church Girl
20. Get Me Bodied
21. Before I Let Go
22. Rather Die Young
23. Love on Top
24. Crazy in Love
25. Green Light
26. Freedom
27. Plastic Off the Sofa
28. Virgo's Groove
29. Naughty Girl / Say My Name / Rocket
30. Move
31. Heated
32. Thique
33. All Up in Your Mind
34. Drunk in Love
35. America Has a Problem
36. Pure/Honey
37. Summer Renaissance

Minnesota Honors Pop Legend Prince With Dedicated Stretch of Highway

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a bill on Tuesday dedicating a seven-mile stretch of highway that runs through the Minneapolis suburbs of Chanhassen and Eden Prairie to honor the late Minnesota icon Prince.

The Purple One passed away in 2016 at the age of 57 due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl, leaving behind a legacy that includes a staggering 100 million records sold worldwide, induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and hits like "Purple Rain," "Let's Go Crazy," "When Doves Cry" and "1999."

Today, I signed a bill renaming a state highway in honor of Prince – an artist who transformed the music scene in Minnesota and across the world.

Prince was a proud Minnesotan through and through, and it's only fitting that we honor this icon in the community he called home. pic.twitter.com/bWYb6bHpif

— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) May 9, 2023

"Prince transformed the music scene in Minnesota and across the world, and he continues to inspire to this day," said Walz, who used purple ink to sign the bill dedicating the roadway. "Prince was a proud Minnesotan through and through, and it is only fitting that we honor one of the greatest musical and creative icons in the community he called home."

Wonderful 2 hear that Minnesota Senate voted 55-5 4 renaming part of Highway 5 in Chanhassen 2 Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway & for stipulating the sign must B in purple 💜#Prince #Prince4Ever #PaisleyPark #Love4OneAnother #PaisleyParkIsInUrHeart pic.twitter.com/TAGHlOqjly

— PrinceShop.Online (@RockItPooleUK) May 5, 2023

The roadway formerly known as Minnesota Highway 5 will now be called the Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway, a fitting tribute to the legendary musician. The legislation was passed by both the House and Senate, with a requirement that the sign must be in purple. Four purple signs, paid for by Prince's friends and fans, will soon be placed along the highway.

Chanhassen is home to Paisley Park, Prince's 65,000-square-foot longtime home and recording complex, which is now a museum dedicated to the Purple One run by his estate. The new highway will run alongside Paisley Park Studios, where Prince would test out his new music with his engineers by riding up and down the highway, listening to how it sounded in the car.

"Prince gave us art, energy, beautiful poetry with his lyrics, and he was a constant symbol of peace, love, and unbridled joy in a world where we are often left standing alone in a world that is so cold," said Rep. Lucy Rehm (DFL-Chanhassen), the bill's author.

The legislation was passed on April 21, the seventh anniversary of Prince's death.