Odell Beckham Jr.Photo:Joe Scarnici/Getty
Joe Scarnici/Getty
Odell Beckham Jr.knows how to bring people together.
As a New Orleans native and LSU alumnus, debuting his latest brainchild in the Louisiana city is significant to Beckham Jr. and the mission of FRI&NDS (pronounced “And Friends”), a platform that aims to highlight and empower undiscovered creatives through different events.
Bringing the athlete’s vision to life, the debut of the new platform — rooted in culture, content and live events — brought together local New Orleans musical acts with artists like Chance The Rapper and Shaboozey, who jammed out on stage in front of a carefully selected circle of guests.
ActorJon Hammhit the dance floor,Saweetievibed to The Soul Rebels' rendition of Chance’s “No Problem,” while Beckham Jr. reunited with newly-namedNFL HonorsOffensive Rookie of the YearJayden Daniels, just hours after presenting him the prestigious award on stage earlier in the night.
Other notable attendees included NFL legendReggie Bush, Green Bay Packers QBJordan Love, San Fransisco 49ers starDeebo Samuel, hitmaker Leon Bridges, Fanatics CEOMichael Rubinand his wifeCamille Fisheland more prominent names of VIPs, tastemakers, local creatives and artisans.
“Everything is about love,” Beckham Jr. says of those in the room. “Let’s appreciate everybody while they’re here, because we’re here today going tomorrow… Celebrate their success. Love, there’s enough love to go around the world as it is.”
Read on for an exclusive, inside look at the star-studded launch.
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Courtesy of Josh Sobel
The star-studded soirée, at Merchant House New Orleans, had everything from street performances to acrobats that twirled from hoops up above.St. Pizzaserved up fresh slices throughout the night, while the city’s famed king cake was passed around for guests to enjoy.
Beckham Jr. tells PEOPLE that launching this unique platform “came natural” to him. “I love to have a good time. Always been semi-the life of the party whether I wanted to or not,” he says.
“I feel like the world is getting repetitious,” the athlete says in part of what inspired FRI&NDS. “We do the same things over and over again — so to be able to put on good events for good people, it’s just amazing.”
02of 14Chance The RapperChance the Rapper dances with New Orleans street performers at FRI&NDS launch party.Josh SobelLuka Sabbat, BigXthaPlug and The Soul Rebels were among the many to take the stage.At one point during The Soul Rebels' set, they performed a rendition of Chance The Rapper’s “No Problem,” to which the artist himself vibed to on the dance floor before joining the eight-piece New Orleans-based brass ensemble on stage for a song.
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Chance The Rapper
Chance the Rapper dances with New Orleans street performers at FRI&NDS launch party.Josh Sobel
Josh Sobel
Luka Sabbat, BigXthaPlug and The Soul Rebels were among the many to take the stage.
At one point during The Soul Rebels' set, they performed a rendition of Chance The Rapper’s “No Problem,” to which the artist himself vibed to on the dance floor before joining the eight-piece New Orleans-based brass ensemble on stage for a song.
03of 14Shaboozey and BigXthaPlugShaboozey joins BigXThaPlug on stage for a song at FRI&NDS.Joe Scarnici/GettyGrammy-nominated artist Shaboozey was in attendance, and eventually hopped on stage to drop some bars from his collab with BigXthaPlug “Drink Don’t Need No Mix.”
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Shaboozey and BigXthaPlug
Shaboozey joins BigXThaPlug on stage for a song at FRI&NDS.Joe Scarnici/Getty
Grammy-nominated artist Shaboozey was in attendance, and eventually hopped on stage to drop some bars from his collab with BigXthaPlug “Drink Don’t Need No Mix.”
04of 14Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr.Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. at the FRI&NDS launch party.Josh SobelJayden Daniels circulated the crowd at the FRI&NDS launch, just hours after he received the Offensive Rookie of the Year award from Beckham Jr.“A full circle moment,” the wide receiver tells PEOPLE exclusively of handing the honor to the Washington Commanders quarterback, having won the exact award himself at the NFL Honors in 2015.Beckham Jr. noted even further significance around that full circle moment, noting that he presented the same award to his “brother” Saquon Barkley at the 2019 NFL Honors.He points out how the Philadelphia Eagles star is “now playing in the Super Bowl in my city, New Orleans.” He reemphasizes of the coincidental trajectory, “I presented Offense of the Year to Jayden Daniels who went to LSU.““Everything is really… I don’t know any other word, but alignment,” Beckham Jr. says. “All year in my life I’ve been praying to God for this discernment for months, months, months — and every single thing that’s happened, has aligned to be exactly that.”
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Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr.
Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas Jr. at the FRI&NDS launch party.Josh Sobel
Jayden Daniels circulated the crowd at the FRI&NDS launch, just hours after he received the Offensive Rookie of the Year award from Beckham Jr.
“A full circle moment,” the wide receiver tells PEOPLE exclusively of handing the honor to the Washington Commanders quarterback, having won the exact award himself at the NFL Honors in 2015.
Beckham Jr. noted even further significance around that full circle moment, noting that he presented the same award to his “brother” Saquon Barkley at the 2019 NFL Honors.
He points out how the Philadelphia Eagles star is “now playing in the Super Bowl in my city, New Orleans.” He reemphasizes of the coincidental trajectory, “I presented Offense of the Year to Jayden Daniels who went to LSU.”
“Everything is really… I don’t know any other word, but alignment,” Beckham Jr. says. “All year in my life I’ve been praying to God for this discernment for months, months, months — and every single thing that’s happened, has aligned to be exactly that.”
05of 14St. Augustine Marching BandThe St. Augustine High School Marching Band kicks of the FRI&NDS launch party in New Orleans.Josh SobelThe evening kicked off with a 100 person ensemble from St. Augustine Marching Band from New Orleans' St. Augustine High School that shut down Magazine Street.“I just felt like it was the perfect opportunity,” Beckham Jr. tells PEOPLE of launching the platform in his home city of New Orleans. “For me right now, I’m all about my flow and letting things happen the way that they’re supposed to happen.““And the Super Bowl in New Orleans, coming back home, everything just seems to be super aligned,” he continues. “This is a special year, and it just seemed like the right opportunity, the right moment.”
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St. Augustine Marching Band
The St. Augustine High School Marching Band kicks of the FRI&NDS launch party in New Orleans.Josh Sobel
The evening kicked off with a 100 person ensemble from St. Augustine Marching Band from New Orleans' St. Augustine High School that shut down Magazine Street.
“I just felt like it was the perfect opportunity,” Beckham Jr. tells PEOPLE of launching the platform in his home city of New Orleans. “For me right now, I’m all about my flow and letting things happen the way that they’re supposed to happen.”
“And the Super Bowl in New Orleans, coming back home, everything just seems to be super aligned,” he continues. “This is a special year, and it just seemed like the right opportunity, the right moment.”
06of 14Jon Hamm, Shaboozey and BigXthaPlugJon Hamm, Shaboozey and BigXThaPlug.Josh SobelJon Hamm came out for the FRI&NDS launch, bringing his energy to the dance floor alongside Shaboozey and BigXthaPlug.Coinciding with Super Bowl week, the program’s debut launched with a bang — but Beckham Jr.’s confident of what’s to come next. “I got a lot of good things coming. I won’t tell you everything, but we got some good plans,” he teases.“My biggest focus of my life right now is being present, being able to be present, be where my feet are at, enjoy the moments, because I know that more are coming,” the athlete adds. “That’s the most important thing.”
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Jon Hamm, Shaboozey and BigXthaPlug
Jon Hamm, Shaboozey and BigXThaPlug.Josh Sobel
Jon Hamm came out for the FRI&NDS launch, bringing his energy to the dance floor alongside Shaboozey and BigXthaPlug.
Coinciding with Super Bowl week, the program’s debut launched with a bang — but Beckham Jr.’s confident of what’s to come next. “I got a lot of good things coming. I won’t tell you everything, but we got some good plans,” he teases.
“My biggest focus of my life right now is being present, being able to be present, be where my feet are at, enjoy the moments, because I know that more are coming,” the athlete adds. “That’s the most important thing.”
07of 14Jordan LoveJordan Love.Josh Sobel
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Jordan Love
Jordan Love.Josh Sobel
08of 14Reggie Bush and Frankie DelgadoReggie Bush and Frankie Delgado.Josh Sobel
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Reggie Bush and Frankie Delgado
Reggie Bush and Frankie Delgado.Josh Sobel
09of 14Paul Pierce, Aaron Jones, Nicky Gathrite, Jalen RamseyPaul Pierce, Aaron Jones, Nicky Gathrite, Jalen Ramsey.Josh Sobel
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Paul Pierce, Aaron Jones, Nicky Gathrite, Jalen Ramsey
Paul Pierce, Aaron Jones, Nicky Gathrite, Jalen Ramsey.Josh Sobel
10of 14Jon Hamm and BigXThaPlugJon Hamm kisses BigXThaPlug.Josh Sobel
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Jon Hamm and BigXThaPlug
Jon Hamm kisses BigXThaPlug.Josh Sobel
11of 14CeeDee Lamb and Deebo SamuelsCeeDee Lamb and Deebo Samuels.Joe Scarnici/Getty
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CeeDee Lamb and Deebo Samuels
CeeDee Lamb and Deebo Samuels.Joe Scarnici/Getty
12of 14Luka SabbatLuka Sabbat.Joe Scarnici/Getty
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Luka Sabbat
Luka Sabbat.Joe Scarnici/Getty
13of 14Odell Beckham Jr.Odell Beckham Jr.Joe Scarnici/Getty
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Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr.Joe Scarnici/Getty
14of 14Leon BridgesLeon Bridges.Josh Sobel
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Leon Bridges
Leon Bridges.Josh Sobel
source: people.com
