8 NBA stars who had rap careers.

There is a mysterious connection between basketball and rap music. Both of those have been intertwined in each other’s culture since the early 1990s. Anyway basketball and rap/hip-hop go well together. Basketball incorporates smooth dribbling moves and many electrifying plays while rap music has a nice flow with the lyrics and the hard beats. Over the years, NBA players dipped their feet into the rap world to try a career in rap music. Maybe it is because of the fact that most of the NBA players are black and so they grow up listening to rap artists. Or maybe it is because they are good friends with many rap artists that they team up with them to drop some words. Anyway, here are 8 of the many NBA stars who had rap careers. Most of them were short-lived.

#1 Kobe Bryant

Yes. Kobe Bryant did have a rap career. Kobe Bryant, the NBA superstar has a nice ring to it. Kobe Bryant, the rapper sounds absolutely weird. In 2000, Kobe tried to release a rap album called Visions. Fortunately for us, it didnt make it to the music stores. However, he released two singles from that album, one named Thug Poet and the other named K.O.B.E ft. Tyra Banks. Soon after, he wrapped up his rap career. He made the right decision as he is the best at dropping points than dropping some lyrics.

#2 Chris Webber

In 1999, Chris Webber released an album called Kuruption! after forming a tandem with a rap artist called Kurupt. It turned out to be a good idea as their single Gansgsta! Gansgsta! turned out to be a hit. C-Webb did not have a great flow but he made it up with his nice sounding voice.

#3 Metta World Peace

As strange as it may sound, it is indeed a name of a person. Formerly known as Ron Artest, World Peace released My World in 2006. It didnt sell well but that hasnt stopped him from releasing more music. He continued rapping through the years. His best work was his single Champions which also featured on the super hit video game NBA 2K11.

#4 Kevin Durant

The current NBA scoring champion can spew some good lyrics. He lacks the energy while rapping, but he leaves great meaning in the listeners mind with his lyrics. Durant seems serious in continuing his rap career.

#5 Gary Payton

Gary Payton was one of the best point guards to ever dribble a basketball on an NBA court. He has some good skill in rapping too. In 1994, he added his piece of music to the album B-Ball's Best Kept Secret ,which featured rap songs from several NBA players. The album was a huge hit.

#6 Tony Parker

After you finish listening to a Tony Parker rap song, two things happen to you. The first thing is that you will either like it or dislike it. The second thing is that you will enter a state of confusion. Because he raps in French. Just for the record, Tony Parker hails from France. So it is obvious to see him rap in his native language. But he does sound smooth. Maybe it is because French is a smooth language. Nevertheless he tasted success.

#7 Shaquille ONeal

Shaq was the most dominant big man to ever play in the NBA. He always entertained the crowd. He released his successful debut album Shaq Diesel in 1993 which went platinum. He also partnered with two of the greatest rappers ever in The Notorious BIG and Jay-Z. Shaq has a nice flow in his lyric delivery.

#8 Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson, by his physical appearance, looks more like a rapper and less like a basketball player. But he is one of the legends of the game. His rap career was interesting but didnt last long. His debut single created controversy in the year 2000, which made the then NBA commissioner David Stern to force Iverson to stop releasing his rap album. But some of the songs on the album made their way onto the Internet. A.I.s lyric delivery was great and so were his lyrics. His songs sound so gangsta.

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Edited by Staff Editor