There has been a long history of basketball and hip-hop music, so they are inextricably linked to each other. One of the similarities that is manifested is how rap music is used to motivate oneself. But while some players turn to hip-hop to cheer themselves up, there are some who are brave enough to make their passion for it into a musical career. Let’s have a look at those players who tried their hand at making a career in hip-hop music.
Chris Webber
Hall of Famer Chris Webber tried his hand at hip-hop music and released a studio album, 2 Much Drama, in February 1999. The album contained 21 tracks that included “Gangsta! Gangsta!” featuring Kurupt, which peaked at #10 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Singles at the time of its release. Webber showed his rap game on the album. However, he focused on his basketball after making stops in Golden State, Washington, Sacramento, Philadelphia and Detroit.
Tony Parker
Newly minted Basketball Hall of Famer and San Antonio Spurs legend Tony Parker also put his name into the rap game in 2007 through his album TP. The album featured 11 songs, which were all in French and received mixed reactions. The track “Premier Love”, featuring French R&B artist Richwel, peaked at number nine on the Billboard France digital song sales chart.
Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball, the eldest of the Ball Brothers who played in the NBA, has also demonstrated his talent and passion for rapping. He released his debut single “Mello Ball 1” in 2017, a song about his youngest brother and Charlotte Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo. After that, rap artist Zo released his second song “ZO2”, which is an ode to his shoe line.
Damian Lillard
Seven-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard and Milwaukee Bucks point guard produced albums like “The Letter O”, Big D.O.L.LA , Don D.O.L.LA and Different On Levels The Lord Allowed. He first became known as a rapper on Instagram, where he started #4BarFriday, which grew into a weekly platform for Lillard to continuously rhyme. “Dame” doesn’t preach about specific topics like guns, money, and women. Instead, he talks about his struggles while growing up in Oakland.
Shaquille O’Neal
The NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal not only excelled in basketball but also in making hip-hop music. His debut album, Shaq Diesel (1993), was certified platinum-selling, while his follow-up album, Shaq Fu: The Return (1994) went gold. “Big Shamrock” added three more solo studio albums to his discography, namely “You Can’t Stop the Rain (1996), Respect (1998) and Gorilla Warfare (2023). He was also part of the soundtrack to the film 1997 Steel, in which he starred.
Also Read:- 10 unknown facts about NBA star Kevin Durant
