When Michael Jordan hurt N.O.R.E. with his take on rap music: "F**k Rap"

Rap and hip-hop music have long been synonymous with basketball, but not if Michael Jordan has anything to say about it. The Chicago Bulls legend once ruffled some feathers with his take on the music genre.

Back in 1999, recording artist N.O.R.E. talked about a negative encounter he had with Michael Jordan. The rapper approached the six-time champion about being in his music video, but MJ declined the offer.

Later down the road, N.O.R.E. was at a holiday party that MJ also attended. It was there he saw the NBA icon have some choice words about the rap genre as a whole.

“I seen him shut Redman down at a Def Jam Christmas party,” he said. “We were all sitting there waiting to speak to Michael Jordan. N***** said, ‘Yo, Redman and Method Man is here.’ [MJ] said, ‘F*** rap.’ I seen the n**** say that…Quote me.

"I believe it was Redman and Method Man, and I’m to the side, so I can directly hear his voice. He was like, ‘F*** rap.’ That shit hurt me. Def Jam Christmas party, Mariah Carey hosting and s**t like that. He only spoke to Hov, but he spoke to Hov. That’s without a doubt.”

How often is Michael Jordan referenced in rap songs?

As one of the biggest figures in NBA history, Jordan's fandom spread into popular culture. Between his iconic shoe, clothing brand and film appearances, everyone knows who the Chicago Bulls star is.

With rap and basketball being intertwined now, artists always try to give a shout-out to their favorite players in their music. Given that MJ is seen as the greatest ever, countless rappers have incorporated him into songs over the years.

Back in 2008, Drake made a reference by citing his notable pose with his tongue out in Barry Bonds Freestyle:

"Yeah, that’s the reason why he looking hard/Cause I’ve done snatched the Chips Ahoy out the cookie jar/He just mad ’cause his girl at the house/With her tongue sticking out like a Michael Jordan rookie card."

Other rappers have created lines about some dark sides to Jordan as well. In his 1994 song Show & Prove, Big Daddy Kane brought up MJ's storied history of gambling:

"Steppin to me, thinkin' I can be touched? Huh/Not even Michael Jordan’ll gamble that much."

The Hall of Fame guard might not be a fan of the music, but that hasn't stopped artists from paying their respect to the all-time great.