Success Story

‘Hip-hop’s best basketball player’ Lil Durk is giving HBCU students a chance to win $333K in scholarships

Lil Durk is an American rapper and one of the most influential voices in the realm of hip-hop. Since emerging in the hip-hop industry, he has built a strong fan base that has catapulted him into the limelight.

As a result of his growing popularity, STARRY, PepsiCo’s crisp lemon-lime flavored soda brand, has collaborated with him on a basketball skills competition held across four HBCUs called STARRY Fizz Fest, according to ForbesBLK.

The participating HBCU schools include Norfolk State University, Hampton University, Jackson State University and Morgan State University. Students have the opportunity to win $333,000 in scholarships with the final stop at the end of this month, ForbesBLK said.

Lil Durk recently made a surprise appearance at Jackson State University to connect with the students.

“I was excited about everything, especially the engagement with the students. We popped up at one of the colleges to surprise them and made it a big thing,” Lil Durk told ForbesBLK. “I was also excited to give them motivation and hope because it drives me too. We’re on the same team and can inspire one another.”

Lil Durk combines his rap music with basketball, a skill he cherishes. A native of Chicago, he hails from a state that has a strong love for basketball.

“Everyone has different talents and basketball is one of mine. I’m from Chicago where basketball is prevalent and that’s where my passion really started,” Lil Durk said. “The opportunity to combine music with sports and play with different rappers, athletes and basketball players is fun.”

The artist gladly takes advantage of situations where sports and music collide and has learned useful things about how to be successful in both. “Growing up, I couldn’t make a basketball team to save my life. So that just lets you know never to give up and practice your talent no matter what it is. If it makes you happy, that’s what it is. Even if you don’t make it to the NBA or college, sticking to what you do and believe in will work out for you in the end.”

NBA great LeBron James recently revealed he thinks Lil Durk is the best rapper to play basketball.

Abu Mubarik

Abu Mubarik is a journalist with years of experience in digital media. He loves football and tennis.

Recent Posts

Two students saved their P.E. teacher after he suffered cardiac arrest: ‘Medically, I was gone’

A physical education teacher, Alfred Kattola, owes his life to the quick thinking of two…

4 hours ago

Doctors misdiagnosed an 11-year-old girl 30 times before finding out she was suffering from brain tumor

An 11-year-old girl, Tia Gordon, has endured misdiagnoses of sickness bugs and migraines by medics…

5 hours ago

How Serena Williams has helped 14 companies reach unicorn status

Serena Williams is undoubtedly one of the greatest tennis players to grace the court. In…

6 hours ago

LeAnna Roberts earns her master’s degree at just 17 years old, her third degree in two years

At the age of sixteen, LeAnna Roberts made headlines when she graduated from the University…

6 hours ago

‘I invested in Tesla in 2006 before Elon took over’: Will.i.am on two investments he made that changed his life

Will.i.am is a musician, producer, technologist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Born Williams Adams, the musician turned…

7 hours ago

Ghanaian American Ohemaa Nyanin named general manager of WNBA Golden State

Ohemaa Nyanin has been named the general manager of the WNBA Golden State team. Nyanin,…

8 hours ago

Allen Onyema: Meet the peaceful man who left law to start Nigeria’s leading airline, Air Peace

Meet Allen Onyema; he is the founder of Nigeria’s largest carrier, Air Peace. The Nigerian…

10 hours ago

The story behind Alicia Keys’ Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen nominated for 13 Tonys

Alicia Keys has reached a new milestone with her musical "Hell's Kitchen" as it has…

11 hours ago

Simone Biles admits she blacked out at her wedding party

Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles decided to commemorate her first wedding anniversary to NFL star…

14 hours ago

‘God jammed the gun’ – Man arrested after attempting to shoot pastor during service livestream

Authorities in Pennsylvania have arrested and charged a 26-year-old man who was seen allegedly attempting…

14 hours ago

British darts player Deta Hedman explains why she declined to play against transgender opponent

British female darts player Deta Hedman withdrew from the Denmark Open over the weekend after…

14 hours ago

New York-based Ghanaian couple accused of fatally beating 5-year-old son sentenced

A New York-based Ghanaian couple accused of fatally beating their 5-year-old son was on May…

14 hours ago

Former Miss Nevada to finally meet her biological mom 44 years after being abandoned in airport

Former beauty queen Elizabeth Hunterton, who was abandoned in an airport as a newborn in…

14 hours ago

9-year-old’s decision to give his only dollar to tycoon he assumed was homeless earns him free shopping spree

It was an act of goodwill with no intended expectation in mind. Donating his only…

1 day ago

Meet Goldfields’ Catherine Kuupol, who is now the first woman general manager in Ghana’s mining history

Get to know Ms. Catherine Kuupol, a mineral engineer who has provided metallurgical technical services…

1 day ago