The Man Behind the Weeknd and XO​, Your Contenders for Song of the Summer​, Blow Up the Clippers, and More

Because There's A Lot of Internet Out There No Images? [Click here]( [Complex]( [From Tehran to Toronto: Meet Cash, the Man Behind the Weeknd and XO]( [From Tehran to Toronto: Meet Cash, the Man Behind the Weeknd and XO ]( ["Newcomers think XO signifies hugs and kisses. Old heads know it stands for ecstasy and Oxycodone. But to Cash, XO is very simply 'family.'" ]( [Six years after upending his life for music, Amir "Cash" Esmailian is seeing his roll of the dice pay off. Now responsible for steering the career of one of pop's most unlikely crossover stars, the savvy manager is sitting on top of the world.]( [READ FULL STORY]( [These Are Your Contenders for Song of the Summer]( [These Are Your Contenders for Song of the Summer ]( ["Summer is when music sounds its best, and the music that's designed for a hot sun and the outdoors has its own kind of staying power."]( [There's another way to win song of the year, without actually being the best song of the year. While it's getting harder and harder to identify a song of the summer—see: the fracture of the music industry by streaming services and listeners simply having more and more things to consume each year—there are still many contenders for the song that will dominate the best three to four months of the year.]( [Read Full Story]( [Dave Bautista Would Love A Solo Film For 'Guardians' Character Drax the Destroyer]( [Dave Bautista Would Love A Solo Film For 'Guardians' Character Drax the Destroyer ]( ["People expect me to walk through the door with a personality like The Rock but the reason I look like this is because I'm not that guy."]( [As the only Marvel ensemble movie that doesn't involve the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy cast is understandably stacked. Theoretically it should be hard to shine when standing next to It Boy Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper voicing a gun-toting raccoon, and Vin Diesel voicing the cutest (and first ever) plant-child you've ever seen, but on the lowest of lows, Dave Bautista's Drax the Destroyer is a quiet MVP.]( [READ FULL STORY]( [From Kendrick to Kylie: Why Are Sneaker Companies Cool With Their Endorsers Wearing Other Brands?]( [From Kendrick to Kylie: Why Are Sneaker Companies Cool With Their Endorsers Wearing Other Brands? ]( ["There are usually terms in place regarding wearing competitors’ products in ads and appearances, but not so much for what they can or can’t wear to the grocery store." ]( [Donning martial arts garb, Kendrick Lamar wore pristine white Vans Old Schools and a pair of Nike Cortezes, not one of the many Reebok silhouettes he’s been promoting since signing an endorsement deal with the company in 2014. How could Reebok be cool with Kendrick not wearing a pair of Classics in such a high-profile moment? Better yet, how could they let the opportunity slip by to have their kicks on Kendrick’s feet when so many people were watching?]( [READ FULL STORY]( [Blow Up the Clippers (But Keep Chris Paul)]( [Blow Up the Clippers (But Keep Chris Paul) ]( ["This is not to say that the past six seasons were pointless. They’re very good, it’s just that they’re not quite good enough."]( [When the Clippers acquired Paul, things changed. His first season in L.A., the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season, the Clippers went 40-26 and advanced to the Western semis for just the second time in their history. They’ve made the playoffs every year since, and are NBA laughingstocks no more. But following this season’s first-round exit, their second in as many years, it’s time for another change. It’s time to take the next step.]( [Read Full Story]( [Wale's 'Shine' Is A New Dad Rap Classic]( [Wale's 'Shine' Is A New Dad Rap Classic ]( ["On the list of things I’d want from a Wale album, him awkwardly speaking Spanish is close to the very bottom."]( [If you’re a rap fan for long enough, you’re going to eventually see one of your favorites make dad rap. This hyper-specific micro-genre is built on overwhelming fatherly pride, chart-chasing accessibility, and characterized by the pursuit to give your children the world. Modern members of this specific canon include Magna Carta Holy Grail, The Life of Pablo, Coloring Book, and 4 Your Eyez Only. The latest entry is Wale’s fifth studio album, Shine.]( [Read Full Story]( [Why Does Chris Paul Get a Pass While Carmelo Anthony Gets Roasted?]( [Why Does Chris Paul Get a Pass While Carmelo Anthony Gets Roasted? ]( ["Carmelo has never been accused of being a bad teammate as much as Paul and doesn’t flop like a fish out of water like him either."]( [Maybe it’s because Carmelo doesn’t exactly exude the characteristics of a leader the same way CP3 does. Paul is a little guy who gets in his teammates’ faces, plays elite defense, and passes the ball; by far a better player than Melo in every facet except scoring and rebounding. Anthony gets shitted on year in, year out for never winning a ring, for not making teammates better while Oscar winner Chris Paul is touted as the league’s best point guard year in, year out, yet he’s never even been a series away from the Finals. Do we see a trend here?]( [Read Full Story]( [Isaiah Thomas Is Now a Certified Celtics Legend]( [Isaiah Thomas Is Now a Certified Celtics Legend]( ["That wasn’t the first time Thomas was overlooked. It might very well be the last."]( [Over the summer, the Boston Celtics went all in pursuing free agent Kevin Durant. Not only did Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens bring their own players, they even enlisted Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to help recruit. The hope was that Brady, the reigning Boston-area champion, could help convince KD to become the next Celtics great. Little did any of them know, that next great was with them the whole time.]( [Read Full Story]( Only want to receive Rare Reads moving forward (and remove yourself from Complex Daily)? [Click here](. © 2017 Complex Media Inc. All rights reserved. 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 35th Fl. New York, NY 10020 [Unsubscribe](