Hip Hop News: Hip Hops Relationship with Basketball (2024)

Rap or go to the league—a look inside the crossover between music and American sports.

Jun 1, 2023 - 00:55

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Two of the most popular pass-times share more relation than meets the eye. The competitive spirit in both professions goes hand-in-hand more that many would assume, with the sole strive to be the best on the court or on the mic This made the two worlds of music and sports bridge over the course of their cultural peaks—and now exists in tandem more than ever.

From sports mixtape compilations to music video cameos, the crossover between hip-hop culture and sports began in the early to mid-90’s. Hip hop was entering a developmental phase, overhauling the simplified rhymes schemes of 80’s pop culture. The genre was maturing and finding new ways to tell the stories of those who didn’t have a voice.

On the opposite side of the court, basketball was beginning to reach a peak level of coverage with a plethora of organizations fighting to cement the legacies of their teams. The way in which the game was being played would see a drastic change as well with a set of fresh names looking to mark their spot in history.

The concept of making it big as a rapper hadn’t really clicked in the average mindset, so the only way people saw a way to make it big was to play a sport. Among inner-city neighborhoods, it was more economically efficient to get into basketball, as all was needed was a ball and a handful of people. It was easier to make space for a court that could hold more than two games simultaneously rather than a football field that could only get one match going at a time.

That in mind, hip-hop lyrics relied heavy upon what rappers experienced in their everyday lives, whether it was a recap of an eventful evening or describing what they saw on the television. With the basketball world elevating to the national stage, players and terms began to sneak their way into verses through punchlines and analogies—and you better believe players took notice too.

The first instance began when superstar center and first-overall pick, Shaquille O’Neal, would spend his off-seasons recording a debut rap album. Hailing from New Jersey (home of rap superstars from Redman to Keith Murray), Shaq would express his interest in the newly blossoming genre by connecting with rappers whom he listened to. This led to many notorious names writing or producing for him as he touched up what would end up becoming his debut record, Shaq Diesel. Many artists from Phife Dawg to Erick Sermon appeared throughout the credits, adding some validity to Shaq’s hip-hop persona. The record would see some success, but now exists as one of hip-hop’s best inside jokes. Don’t get it twisted though, Shaq Diesel was nice.

Shaquielle O’Neal (a.k.a Shaq Diesel)

Two more well-established ballers made efforts to etch their names in the hip-hop world. The NBA draft class of 1996 consisting of names like Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant were akin to styles on and off the court. The two competitors made waves in pop culture with sports and fashion throughout the late 90’s and early 2000’s, but many are quick to forget their musical endeavors during this time.

Allen Iverson followed in Shaq Diesel’s footsteps, creating an untraceable rapping alter ego, Jewels. The loose single “40 Bars” made noise on the streets, but didn’t take off as the basketball business leaned to be more conservative. On the other hand, Kobe fully embraced his musical ventures, recording a series of gritty records that didn’t see the light of day, but were well represented when out. The NBA Finals anthem “K.O.B.E” featuring Tyra Banks was a good look but overshadowed his gritty attempts such as “Thug Poet” assisted by an up-and-coming artist by the name of 50 Cent.

Fast forward to today and the hip-hop bug has transferred all throughout the league as we see more and more hoopers jumpstarting their rap careers. From Dame D.O.L.L.A. (Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers) to Zo (Lonzo Ball of the Chicago Bulls), basketball players are beginning to find major success through their off-the-court careers. The league – and the culture to an extent – would typically dismiss young athletes turned artists, but many like the two mentioned have displayed their passion for the genre on the forefront, turning a hobby into a steady stream of income.

Kobe Bryant’s rap debut at the House of Blues (2000)

On the other end of the court, there were some rappers who got busy on the basketball court before their path to hip-hop stardom. Credit to 2 Chainz 2019 release title, Rap or Go to the League, this was quite literally the mentality when it came to coming up in inner-city neighborhoods. Many rappers have expressed their past on the court, but none were as accomplished in the sport as the mythical NOLA-based hustler, Master P.

What many don’t know is P spent two seasons in the NBA as a part of two franchises: the Toronto Raptors and the then-Charlotte Hornets. P went toe to toe with legends from Vince Carter to Tracy McGrady in and out of practice. While his career in the NBA was short-lived, it helped bridge a gap between the two worlds as those same players P competed with helped embrace his overwhelming No Limit movement.

Many rappers that followed came from the same cloth as Master P, expressing their thorough interest of the sport prior to their careers taking off. For example, before Tity Boi transformed into 2 Chainz, the Atlanta-bred hustler was one of the most notorious college basketball players in the country. Though things didn’t work out for Chainz due to his extreme situation. The sports theme continues to follow his career with celebrity game appearances and album titles.

Percy ‘Master P’ Miller during his stint with the Toronto Raptors (c. 1999)

Dave East is another name that many wouldn’t know balled with the best. The Harlem emcee made waves in the D.C. circuit alongside one of the most well-known names in the league, Kevin Durant. And who could forget the basketball themed mixtapes from J. Cole, harnessing the competitive spirit of both sports on the mic.

No matter the profession, nobody wants to be a benchwarmer. Whether you play ball or spit bars, you’re always going to have that chip on your shoulder to prove yourself and cement your standing in history. So much has changed in the overall landscape of the word; we’re at a point where basketball and hip-hop go together like peanut butter and jelly. From throwback jerseys taking the center role in early 2000’s fashion to stadium disc jockeys playing the hottest hip-hop records of all time during a game, the two worlds have meshed perfectly together over the years, changing the way we see pop culture today.

For those in the current generation, it really is hard to imagine a time where hip-hop and hoops were separated. Both continue to play pivotal roles in the progression of the culture, and while the rugged nature of the two are beginning to soften up, there’s nothing that could replace nor replicate the gigantic impact the two worlds have had on the world.