In honor of hip-hop turning 50, ESPN tapped the tradition’s lead voices to write down about their favourite athlete name-drops in hip-hop historical past. Underneath is a number of essays.
Kendrick Lamar on former NBA schoolmaster Phil Jackson
via Jayson Buford
Bulky Sean’s “Control” (2013), which options Kendrick Lamar, raises the stakes of rap pageant to the purpose of him sounding like a teacher and has a lyric that made Phil Jackson publicly touch upon rap, most likely for the primary year ever. Kendrick, in the midst of his three-minute verse, name-drops the schoolmaster of the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers dynasties: “If Phil Jackson came back, still no coaching me.”
When Kendrick Lamar told Phil Jackson he was beyond coaching
Regular’s Serena Williams name-drop demanded admire for the GOAT
via Katie Barnes
Serena Williams is an icon, the GOAT, a tennis legend and one of the vital name-dropped lady athlete in hip-hop, but her acknowledgment in popular culture used to be incessantly various.
How Common spoke the truth about Serena Williams’ true value
How Ghostface Killah made Yankees admirable Graig Nettles cool once more
via Alphonse Pierre
For a tender baseball participant who longed to play games 2d bottom however ended up at 3rd, a Ghostface Killah freestyle helped him embody his unused place.
How Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah made Yankees legend Graig Nettles cool again
The soul-stirring energy of Jordan, J.Cole and ‘The Lion King’
via Jada Gomez
Aspiring via the profession of Michael Jordan and an iconic Disney personality, J.Cole dropped one of the crucial transferring songs of his profession.
Powered by Michael Jordan, J. Cole reached a new level on “Return of Simba”
Why Will Smith’s comedian jab at Mike Tyson by no means collision its mark
via Sean Malcolm
In 1989, it used to be impossible to suppose any sane human being may just beat Michael Gerard Tyson in any roughly battle (cough, cough…Mitch Inexperienced), let lonely a qualified boxing fit. But, within the delusional thoughts of Will Smith — higher identified after as hip-hop wunderkind, The Unutilized Prince — he concept he may just kill an excellent one with the most efficient fighter at the airplane.
How The Fresh Prince folded under the heat of Iron Mike
Jadakiss displays on NBA legend Sam Cassell
via Eric Rosenthal and Jeff Rosenthal
Hip-hop Corridor of Famer Jadakiss on how NBA legend and Celtics associate schoolmaster Sam Cassell made it into one of the most rapper’s maximum memorable lyrics.
A lyrical name-drop is earned, and NBA legend Sam Cassell got it honest
