What Rapper Played Professional Basketball?
The music industry is full of talented individuals who have made a name for themselves through their musical talents. Many of these artists have come from humble beginnings and have earned their place in the limelight. But what many people don’t know is that there are some rappers who have also played professional basketball.
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most famous rappers who also had a professional basketball career. We’ll also take a look at how these artists used their basketball backgrounds to propel their music careers. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of rap and basketball.
Master P
The first artist on our list is Master P. He is one of the most influential rappers of all time and is also known for his professional basketball career.
Master P was born Percy Miller in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1967. He was a talented basketball player in high school and was offered a Division I scholarship to the University of Houston. He turned down the offer and instead chose to focus on his music career.
Master P then went on to have a successful rap career, releasing multiple albums, singles, and even a movie. But during his time in the music industry, he also played professional basketball for five different teams, including the Fort Wayne Fury, the Ontario Warriors, and the San Diego Wildcards.
Shaquille O’Neal
Another rapper on our list is Shaquille O’Neal. He is arguably one of the most popular basketball players of all time and is also a successful rapper.
Shaquille O’Neal was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1972. He was a star basketball player in high school and was offered a scholarship to Louisiana State University. He chose to go to LSU and declared for the NBA draft in 1992.
Shaquille O’Neal went on to have an incredibly successful NBA career, winning four championships and three MVP awards. He also released four rap albums throughout his career, with his debut album, Shaq Diesel, reaching platinum status.
Kobe Bryant
The next artist on our list is Kobe Bryant. He is one of the most iconic basketball players of all time and also tried his hand at rap.
Kobe Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1978. He was a talented basketball player in high school and was offered a scholarship to Duke University. He chose to forgo college and declare for the NBA draft in 1996.
Kobe Bryant went on to have an amazing NBA career, winning five championships and two MVP awards. He also released one rap album, titled K.O.B.E., in 2000. The album was met with mixed reviews, but it did reach gold status.
Lil Wayne
The last artist on our list is Lil Wayne. He is one of the most successful rappers of all time and is also an avid basketball fan.
Lil Wayne was born Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1982. He grew up playing basketball and was even offered a scholarship to the University of Houston, but he chose to forgo college and focus on his music career.
Lil Wayne has gone on to have an incredible rap career, releasing multiple albums, singles, and mixtapes. He is also an avid basketball fan and has been known to attend NBA games and even play in celebrity games.
The Rap Game in Basketball
Now that we’ve taken a look at some of the most famous rappers who have also had a professional basketball career, let’s take a look at how these artists used their basketball backgrounds to propel their rap careers.
Branding
One way in which these artists used their basketball backgrounds to promote their rap careers was through branding. By having a basketball background, they were able to connect with a wider audience and create a unique brand for themselves.
For example, Master P was able to create the “No Limit” brand, which was based on his basketball background. Similarly, Shaquille O’Neal was able to create the “Shaq-Fu” brand, which was based on his basketball skills.
Marketing
Another way in which these artists used their basketball backgrounds to promote their rap careers was through marketing. By leveraging their basketball backgrounds, they were able to create campaigns that appealed to a wider audience.
For example, Master P used his basketball background to create a campaign called “No Limit Soldiers”, which was aimed at young people. Similarly, Shaquille O’Neal was able to create a campaign called “The Shaq Attack”, which was aimed at adults.
Collaborations
Finally, these artists used their basketball backgrounds to collaborate with other artists. By leveraging their basketball backgrounds, they were able to create songs that had a wide appeal.
For example, Master P collaborated with artists such as P. Diddy and Snoop Dogg on songs such as “No Limit Soldiers” and “Gangsta Thang”. Similarly, Shaquille O’Neal collaborated with artists such as Jay-Z and Eminem on songs such as “My Name Is” and “Realest Niggaz”.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are some rappers who have also played professional basketball. Artists such as Master P, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Lil Wayne have all used their basketball backgrounds to propel their music careers. They have done this by leveraging their basketball backgrounds to create unique brands, marketing campaigns, and collaborations with other artists.
All in all, these artists have shown that you can be successful in both basketball and rap. They have used their basketball backgrounds to reach a wider audience, create unique brands, and collaborate with other artists.