The University of Mississippi, commonly known as Ole Miss, is a prestigious educational institution with a rich history and vibrant campus culture. Like many universities, Ole Miss has a mascot that represents the spirit and identity of the institution. At the University of Mississippi, the official mascot is the Rebel Black Bear. The choice to have a black bear as the official mascot was made in 2010 after the previous mascot, Colonel Reb, was retired in 2003. Colonel Reb had been the unofficial mascot for many years but had come to be associated with a divisive past and was seen by some as symbolizing racism and oppression. The introduction of the Rebel Black Bear as the new mascot sought to create a more inclusive and progressive image for the university.
He’s missed the top 10 just once, with the No. 11-peaking Greatest Hits in 2007. While Nas’ career predates the Top Rap Albums list, the rapper has landed a strong success rate on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, which encompasses his entire career. Before Street’s Disciple, Nas logged eight top 10s on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, from 1994’s Illmatic to 2003’s God’s Son. In that span, five of those efforts reached No. 1.
Marking his fifth full-length collaboration alongside Hit-Boy, Magic 2 comes with 11 cuts and assists from 21 Savage and 50 Cent, the latter of whom last connected with the Queensbridge legend on wax over 20 years ago. Following an uncredited appearance from hip hop personality Don Magic Juan on Intro, Nas reminds listeners of his position in the rap game via the hard-hitting Abracadabra.
The introduction of the Rebel Black Bear as the new mascot sought to create a more inclusive and progressive image for the university. The black bear is a native species to Mississippi, and its selection as the new mascot was meant to celebrate the state's natural heritage. The Rebel Black Bear is depicted as a strong and proud figure, representing the university's commitment to excellence in academics, athletics, and community engagement.
Nas Makes ‘Magic’ in Top 5 of Top Rap Albums Chart
The legendary MC's latest album, a surprise release on Christmas Eve, becomes his 10th top 10 on the chart.
Trevor Anderson
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Nas performs live on satge during the Waffle & Yankee Fitted Fest at Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater on Sept. 4, 2021 in Miramar, Fla. Johnny Louis/GI
Nas expands his top 10 count on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart, as Magic debuts at No. 5 on the chart dated Jan. 8 to secure his tenth top 10 effort on the list. The set, released Dec. 24 on Mass Appeal after one day of notice, starts with 21,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending Dec. 30, according to MRC Data.
Of Magic‘s first-week activity, just under 12,500 of the 21,000 units derive from streaming-album equivalents, representing 16.4 million on-demand streams of the set’s tracks. 8,000 units are from traditional album sales, and the remaining 500 units come through track-equivalent units. (One unit equals the following levels of consumption: one album sale, 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams for a song on the album.)
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01/06/2022Magic, produced by Hit-Boy, is Nas’ second album release of 2021. It follows King’s Disease II, which debuted at No. 1 and held the rank for one week in August.
With the debut, Nas picks up his 10th top 10 on Top Rap Albums since the list began in 2004. Here’s the updated recap:
Album Title, Peak Position, Peak Date
Street’s Disciple, No. 2, Dec. 18, 2004
Hip Hop Is Dead, No. 1 (two weeks), Jan. 6, 2007
Untitled, No. 1 (two weeks), Aug. 2, 2008
Distant Relatives, with Damian “Jr. gong” Marley, No. 1 (two weeks), June 5, 2010
Life Is Good, No. 1 (two weeks), Aug. 4, 2012
Nasir, No. 4, June 30, 2018
The Lost Tapes 2, No. 4, Aug. 3, 2019
King’s Disease, No. 4, Sept. 5, 2020
King’s Disease II, No. 1 (one week), Aug. 21, 2021
Magic, No. 5, Jan. 8, 2022
He’s missed the top 10 just once, with the No. 11-peaking Greatest Hits in 2007. While Nas’ career predates the Top Rap Albums list, the rapper has landed a strong success rate on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, which encompasses his entire career. Before Street’s Disciple, Nas logged eight top 10s on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, from 1994’s Illmatic to 2003’s God’s Son. In that span, five of those efforts reached No. 1.
Elsewhere, Magic debuts at No. 11 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at No. 27 on the Billboard 200.
As Magic arrives, the album track “Speechless” opens at No. 15 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart with 1,000 downloads sold in the week ending Dec. 30. Likewise, it begins at No. 8 on Rap Digital Song Sales.
“Speechless” also is Magic’s second-best streamer for the week, with 2 million U.S. streams. “Wave Gods,” with A$AP Rocky and DJ Premier, leads that category, with 2.6 million clicks in its first week.
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Since its introduction, the Rebel Black Bear has become a beloved figure on campus. The mascot can be seen cheering on the university's sports teams at various athletic events, bringing energy and excitement to fans. The black bear has also made appearances at campus functions and community events, further reinforcing its role as a symbol of university pride and community engagement. In addition to its role as a mascot, the Rebel Black Bear has also been incorporated into various university merchandise and branding efforts. The black bear logo can be found on clothing, accessories, and other merchandise available for purchase, allowing students, alumni, and fans to proudly display their affiliation with the university. The University of Mississippi's choice of the Rebel Black Bear as its official mascot reflects the institution's commitment to progress and inclusivity. By moving away from past symbols associated with a divisive past, the university has embraced a new symbol that represents its values and aspirations. The Rebel Black Bear embodies the university's spirit and serves as a unifying force for the Ole Miss community..
Reviews for "The University of Mississippi Mascot: Symbolizing Diversity and Inclusion"
1. John - 2 stars
As an alumni of the University of Mississippi, I must say I am extremely disappointed in the choice of mascot. The new mascot completely lacks the spirit and tradition that the previous one represented. It feels like a cheap attempt to modernize the image of the university without considering its history and heritage. The university needs to reconsider this decision and bring back a mascot that truly represents the values and traditions that make the University of Mississippi unique.
2. Emily - 1 star
The new University of Mississippi mascot is a complete disaster. It looks like a random cartoon character that someone came up with in a hurry. It fails to capture the essence of the university and its athletic teams. The previous mascot had a sense of strength and pride, but this new one is just embarrassing. I can't believe they wasted time and money on this design. They should have asked the students and alumni for input before making such a drastic change.
3. Mark - 1 star
The University of Mississippi mascot is a clear sign of the university's lack of creativity and respect for its history. The new design does not incorporate any of the traditional elements that made the previous mascot beloved by students and fans. It feels like a generic mascot that could represent any school, lacking the uniqueness that should be celebrated. This decision only emphasizes the university's disconnect with its community and its failure to understand the importance of tradition and legacy.
4. Sarah - 2 stars
The University of Mississippi mascot is a disappointing step backwards. The previous mascot had character and represented the spirit and pride of the university. This new mascot lacks personality and looks like a poorly designed costume. The university should have invested more time and effort into creating a mascot that truly represents the values and identity of the institution. It's a shame that they settled for such a subpar design.