In fact, the last time we really heard Shaq get nasty on the mic was in 2008 with a battle rap tirade against Kobe, briefly popularizing the phrase “Kobe, tell me how my ass taste?” Shaq had a few minor hits of his own, including “(I Know I Got) Skillz” and the autobiographical “Biological Didn’t Bother,” where Shaq’s rap prowess is somehow strong enough to successfully rhyme “Want” and “Front.” We sadly haven’t had a proper Shaq single since his 2001 single “Connected” with Nate Dogg and WC from his scrapped double-disc album Shaq Presents…His Supafriendz Vol. Shaq is widely credited with kicking the phenomenon off by rapping along the Fu-Schnickens, most notably on “What’s Up Doc? (Can We Rock)” where he brags about being the #1 pick (“not a Christian Laettner, not Alonzo Mourning”). Of course, this lead to the inevitable rapsketball crossovers. With the ’90s came the biggest business both hip-hop and the NBA had ever seen. There’s also Wreckx-N-Effect rechristening their chart-topper “Rump Shaker” as “Rim Shaker.” Such creations eventually lead to the compilation CD NBA Jam Session that included the Heavy D/Notorious B.I.G. The most bizarre being Kool Keith and The Ultramagnetic MCs’ rapping the players’ introductions at the 1989 NBA All Star Game. The turn of the decade saw rappers re-writing their own signature songs to get some playing time on the court. Hip-hop and modern basketball both grew-up very quickly in the ’80s with the occasional moments of intersecting like Chuck D’s Charles Barkley reference in “Rebel Without a Pause” and the Chris Webber and Jalen Rose lead University of Michigan Wolverines basketball team allegedly ending their huddles not by yelling “Defense!” but quoting Geto Boys’ Scarface with “Let Your Nuts Hang.” While there’s been basketball references in rap going back to a New York Knicks shout-out in “Rapper’s Delight,” the second rap song ever released, the first time the subject took center stage court was in Kurtis Blow’s 1984 classic “Basketball.” You can tell Blow had a blast recording the track, utilizing the litany of untapped rhymes for basketball plays, and the sheer zeal he brings to rapping about dribbling. See also: The 10 Best Male Rappers of All Time With that in mind, here’s our history of Rap and Basketball. With the three performing in a venue that a rap artist help build, it’s a reminder of the long and storied history rap and basketball have had together - hip-hop and hoops have proven to be quite the slam dunk of a dynasty. On Sunday, Wale, Fabolous, and Big Sean performed at the Barclays Center as part of the celebrity basketball challenge. Doctor, Shaq would like to know if he can Roc.
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