The NBA and hip-hop have always been intertwined, and It will continue to be like that for the foreseeable future as well. With that in mind, one question always comes to every NBA fan’s mind who also listens to hip-hop: which rapper would be their NBA equal?
NBA Players as Hip-Hop Artists
Michael Jordan is Tupac or Biggie Smalls
It makes sense for the greatest of all time in one industry to be compared to another great. Sure, there are some that say Jordan is not the greatest, and the same for Tupac and Biggie, however, the arguments for them being at the top in their craft is even stronger.
When each was in their prime, there was no one that could touch them. Even their rivals had massive respect for them. Not to mention, we often hear that either Tupac or Biggie were the Michael Jordan of hip-hop. If you listen to tracks like “Hit ‘Em Up”, “Hypnotize”, or “Ambitionz as a Rider”, then you will know they draw this comparison.
Kobe Bryant is Eminem
I know, I know. “How dare I put someone like Eminem on this list.” To that I say, how can you not? Whether you like him or not, he is one of the biggest hip hop icons and is also in the conversation for greatest of all time despite all the controversy. This is very similar to Kobe Bryant. Both have angered their fair share of peers, but both have solidified themselves as the best during their prime. Time after time, we saw Bryant hit tough shot after tough shot. Not to mention, he had some of the most insane scoring performances in NBA history such as an 81 point performance and multiple 50 point games.
Eminem has racked up his fair share of accolades over the years and has plenty of great songs such as Lose Yourself, Rap God, and Not Afraid, and those are just a few of the mainstream singles. Eminem also has other gems you won’t hear on the radio such as Not Alike, When the Music Stops, and Cinderella Man. Plus, they both have never backed down from a challenge. This honestly could be the best comparison on this entire list.
LeBron James is Kendrick Lamar
Both were considered the best in their field at one point, and are still considered to be at the top by many. James and Lamar are both very outspoken about social issues and are talented as well. When you watch both perform, you cannot help but be in awe of their talent. So far, they have managed to give Father Time a run for his money as neither James or Lamar are going anywhere soon.
Regardless of what you think of either them, you have to admit that they are both once in a lifetime talents that will not come around again. While the timelines do not exactly match up, both LeBron and Kendrick are similar in many aspects. Just listen to Money Trees, HUMBLE, or King Kunta. Like I said at the start, hip hop and basketball have always been intertwined.
Draymond Green is 50 Cent
This seems a bit of an odd comparison at first. However, just bear with me. Both are talented in their own way and both do not shy away from confrontation. 50 Cent is no stranger to beef and neither is Green. It is a laundry list of people 50 has beefed with, or is still beefing with to this day. From Ja Rule, Fat Joe, The Game, all the way to Wendy Williams of all people, 50 Cent does not back down from anyone (pardon the pun).
For Draymond, he also has a laundry list of people he has feuded with as well. He has had problems with LeBron James, Steven Adams, the refs, and even whole teams. Just for the mere fact of them both being mired in beef makes this an easy comparison.
Kevin Durant is Nas
Much like Durant, Nas has a legitimate argument for being the greatest as of right now. The unfortunate thing for both of them is that they are constantly being compared to their other legendary peers, such as LeBron James for Durant and guys like Eminem and Jay Z, who Nas had a notorious beef with, which is unfortunate for both of them in a way.
They are both world-class talents, but in a weird way, they are somewhat overlooked. Durant’s NBA talent is overlooked in the capacity that people like to bring up the fact that he joined a 73-9 team, which we will discuss another day. However, if you take away that aspect, then he has a legitimate argument for being the best as of right now. The same can be said about Nas. He has classic songs and albums dating all the way back to the 1990s.