Kevin Durant Launches YouTube Channel Giving Subscribers Inside Access To His Life

Warriors F Kevin Durant has "launched his own YouTube channel," and the channel "bills itself as an inside look at his off-the-court life," according to Katie Dowd of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The videos on the channel "show the spectacular vista from his East Bay hills home, which features a basketball court with probably the best view anywhere." In the latest video, called "Still KD: Episode 1," shows Durant in the "lead-up to Sunday's game against the Blazers." In it, a private chef "makes his pregame meal while Durant relaxes with some video games." Durant "promises more videos throughout the Warriors' playoff run" (SFGATE.com, 4/17). The channel has nearly 73,000 subscribers, and his first live stream on Saturday has drawn more than 445,000 views (THE DAILY).

SPITTING HOT FIRE: ROLLING STONE's Scott Rafferty noted Cavaliers F LeBron James' Instagram account has "turned into the hottest place for rappers to unveil snippets of their upcoming albums or gain new fans." James "tends to get his hands on some exclusive music way before anyone else does," and he often posts "short Instagram stories of himself enjoying -- and often times rapping along to -- unreleased tracks by some of the hottest rappers in the world that has become a hot commodity." Kendrick Lamar and Drake are among those to give James early releases, and James' Instagram feed, which has nearly 30 million followers, "often looks like a one-man listening party, a way to get listeners excited about what James is hyped about" (ROLLINGSTONE.com, 4/17).