We’re still a bit gunshy about the sports/music convergence after enduring Trace Adkins’ national anthem during the World Series, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t note two basketball-related happenings this week: the opening of the 2006-07 NBA season and the long-awaited release of Sacramento King Ron Artest’s album, My World. To honor the confluence of these two events, we present our five favorite basketball-playing rappers, and video clips that show off their mic skills.
1) Shaquille O’Neal, “No Hook” (featuring Method Man and RZA): In 1994, Shaq was already on his third album, and he was savvy enough–these were the pre-Kazaam years, remember–to let his guests pick up an assist or two. He gets extra points for bringing two members of the Wu-Tang Clan along for the ride, even though they rap circles around him.
2) Kobe Bryant, untitled freestyle on NBA TV (featuring Tyra Banks): Kobe tries to emulate his ex-teammate’s strategy of letting his guests do the heavy lifting here, although picking the America’s Next Top Model host as his shrieking foil–and not as, say, arm candy–was a grave mistake.
3) Ron Artest, Chicago concert, 2006: This video, which Artest is proudly featuring on his MySpace page, is vertigo-inducing in its blurriness, but we have to ask: Didn’t he warn his pals about the pitfalls of jumping into crowds?
4) Tony Parker freestyling–in French–after the San Antonio Spurs win the 2005 NBA championship: Foreign nationals, take note: Eva Longoria’s ex has come up with a way to get middle America to love you once again. Just put anything you might have to say in the context of the crowd’s favorite team winning it all.
5) Kurtis Blow, “Basketball”: Okay, this is a gimme. Just think of it as a palate-cleanser for those of you who actually made it all the way through Tyra Banks’ attempts to “harmonize.”
what about iverson’s rap?
where’s the love for t-hud?
Did Shaq rap in Kazaam? Because that would be too great.
Did Shaq rap in Kazaam? Because that would be too great.
4 words: “Make Em Say Uhh!”
4 words: “Make Em Say Uhh!”
I got 100 bucks on Ron winning the next American Idol.
Nice job on “No Hooks” – a song I actually have. Because of The Rza and the Meth, of course.
It bares mentioning that “What Up, Doc” with the Fu-Schnikens was decent, “Outstanding” was produced by Erick Sermon, and “You Can’t Stop The Reign” featured the Notorious B.I.G. So the point is, as far as NBA rappers go, Shaq is the first, and by far the best. He’s the Babe Ruth of this. And yes, he’s still a mediocre rapper.
The funniest and most asinine footnote on that Shaq track is when Kareem took offense to the title because he thought Shaq was saying he didn’t have a need for a hook shot. And I’m glad Rza got over that Gravediggaz thing, with the fangs and all.
I have no shame in admitting that “What’s Up, Doc” enjoyed a prominent place in my listening habits during my formative years.
Well, maybe a little shame.
Spinachdip – “hey ya little rich kid, what’s your beef?”… loved the Gravediggaz phase, even if it was silly as sh*t. Prince Paul + Rza = Good sh*t always, even if was completely ridiculous.
I actually liked the Gravediggaz and I loved that they created the “horror core” genre that lasted about 3 months. But the fake teeth just aren’t becoming.
Totally agree. Paul Wall may have beef with ya, though.
At first glance, that headline sorta looks like: “Our Favorite Raping Basketball Stars”
i saw posters for artest’s album the other day. he must have spent a fortune on street marketing.
he shot 6-24 last night. must have been tired from promoting his album.
I don’t know what he’s saying, but Tony P takes the cake. Shaq’s Fu-schnickens track was blazin as well.
Y’know when people ask me why I think Kobe Bryant is such a douche, I don’t even mention that whole “sexual assault” thing, or the ratting on Shaq for having other women, or even the fact that he tanked it in game 7 against Phoenix last year.I blame it on “K.O.B.E.” After all, it’s the sonic equivalent of a sexual assault.
Nice work on “No Hook,” another great one that I used to love was Shaq’s “You Can’t Stop The Reign” featuring the Notorious BIG. It was all sorts of awesome,
chrisb, that category would be even more competitive than this one
Yeah, not even gonna front, I still have “Shaq Diesel” on cassette. And that Fu-Schnickens “What’s Up Doc?” single. On cassette.
If Aries Spears was still doing his Magic Johnson impression and he rapped nonsense with it, it would sound exactly like Shaq rapping.