Hip Hop and the NBA have a strong relationship. A lot of Hip Hop artists make courtside appearances at games., cheering on for their hometown team. For example, Drake is the global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have an October’s Very Own, which is Drake’s record label, Jersey that they play in. NBA players such as Damian Lillard and Marcus Smart have released songs as well. The NBA’s influence on Hip Hop has inspired the artists to release songs named after notable players. Here are the top Hip Hop songs named after NBA players.
Top Hip Hop Songs Named After NBA Players
Lil Wayne – Kobe Bryant
Legendary artist Lil Wayne is an avid supporter of Los Angeles Lakers legend and future Hall-of-Famer Kobe Bryant. He even went as far as stating Bryant is better than Michael Jordan. In 2009, Lil Wayne released this song in support of the Lakers’ run in the NBA Finals. The Lakers lost in the previous finals in 2008 to the Boston Celtics. In 2009, they faced the Orlando Magic. The song proved to live up to its lyrics as the Lakers defeated the Magic to win the title.
Meek Mill – Derrick Rose
This song appeared on the first installment of Meek Mill’s DreamChaser mixtape series in 2011. Both Meek Mill and Derrick Rose had a lot in common in 2011. After a few years, Meek Mill was in a position to climb the rankings in the rap game. Rose took the NBA by storm within that same period and won the Most Valuable Player Award that year.
Lil Snupe – Melo
Lil Snupe was a rising artist under DreamChaser Records, which was founded by Meek Mill. In April 2013, Lil Snupe released the first music video off of his mixtape, which was Melo. This marked the beginning of his rise in Hip Hop. His aggressive, menacing flow brought new attention. Also, in 2013, Carmelo Anthony led the New York Knicks to their last playoff appearance. Sadly, Lil Snupe passed away in June 2013.
Sheck Wes – Mo Bamba
The single, Mo Bamba, was originally released in 2017. A year later, the song became a viral sensation and remains as Sheck Wes’ biggest hit to date. Athletes such as Odell Beckham Jr. and Shaquille O’Neal posted themselves on their social media pages while listening to the song. Drake brought out Sheck Wes during his concert at a sold-out area and let him perform the hit. Both Sheck Wes and Mo Bamba share the same African heritage. Although Bamba is still developing in the NBA, the song named after him sold over three million copies.
Curren$y – Scottie Pippen (featuring Freddie Gibbs)
New Orleans’ rapper Curren$y is one of the most consistent artists in Hip Hop. He has tirelessly released many projects. In 2011, he released Covert Coup, which is one of his most notable projects. On that project, Scottie Pippen appears. Curren$y made a reference about Pippen’s shoes rather than the player, but his verse was one his best. Also, Freddie Gibbs added more heat to the song. Both artists are well-known in the independent circuit.
Hip Hop Songs Honorable Mention: SC The Second – Kawhi (MVP)
Recently, St. Louis artist, SC The Second released a song named after Kawhi Leonard. The song was inspired by Leonard’s playoff run with the Raptors, which resulted in winning the championship and being voted NBA Finals MVP. The song is very new, so it has not made a huge impact for now, but it is a fun listen.