Athletes Want to Be Rappers. Rappers Want to Be Athletes.
From Shaq's platinum album to J. Cole's professional basketball career, some of the biggest names in sports and hip-hop have tried to conquer each other's worlds.
Athletes World
• February 24, 2012: J. Cole in during the Sprint All-Star Celebrity Game of the NBA All-Star Jam Session at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
• Licensed Photo: ZUMA Press, Inc. / Alamy
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In 2019, Shaquille O'Neal and Damian Lillard got into a battle that had nothing to do with basketball.
They were arguing over who was the better rapper.
Lillard, who records music as Dame D.O.L.L.A., believed he had better rap skills than Shaq. O'Neal wasn't having it.
The result? Both NBA stars released diss tracks aimed at each other, turning a debate over their music into a full-blown rap battle. (ESPN, 2019)
It was a perfect example of a relationship that has existed for decades: basketball players wanting to be rappers, and rappers dreaming of playing professional basketball.
They were arguing over who was the better rapper.
Lillard, who records music as Dame D.O.L.L.A., believed he had better rap skills than Shaq. O'Neal wasn't having it.
The result? Both NBA stars released diss tracks aimed at each other, turning a debate over their music into a full-blown rap battle. (ESPN, 2019)
It was a perfect example of a relationship that has existed for decades: basketball players wanting to be rappers, and rappers dreaming of playing professional basketball.
