If Hip-Hop was a sport…
Part 1
For years we have noticed the direct correlation between hip-hop and basketball, the two are so intertwined it’s scary. Every basketball player wants to rap and every rapper wants to ball or did in their past. Hip-hop is just like basketball, you can shine individually and have your stats back you up despite if you win a championship or not, and in hip-hop’s case drop a classic album… or NOT! So this is where we come in. What if your favorite rapper hooped instead of gracing the mic? Who would he be? Here at ItsTheRatpack.com we decided to take a crack at it and compare artist to their basketball equivalent. Check it out!
Big L=Len Bias
Both of these guys had an untimely demise before we could see their true potential and what they could’ve become. A lot of spectators say that both could have been the best in their in hip-hop and sports, but unfortunately we will never know.
Notorious BIG = Wilt Chamberlin
BIG is arguably one of the greatest lyricist hip-hop has ever seen while Wilt is a entity in his own right and the ONLY player to ever score 100 points in a NBA game, cementing his legacy as one of the NBA’s greatest scorers. Wilt won 2 champions in during his career, while BIG had an untimely death, he dropped two classic albums. They may not have a enormous catalogue of music or a hand full of championship rings, but these two are and will forever be known as game changers and the upper echelon in their respective fields.
Tupac= Rasheed Wallace
Pac and Rasheed, two of the most versatile yet emotional and passionate men their field has ever seen. Pac can give you a track like “Hail Mary” and then switch it up and talk about how “Brenda’s got a baby”. Rasheed was the same way; he could kill you in the post but also be deadly from outside the arc. Both men often times let their emotions get the best of them, but that’s also why we loved them… they were real, they were transparent and overall they are Hall of Famers.
Jay- Z = Michael Jordan
I know some of you may disagree, but seriously… how can you not compare the two? They both retired and came back to show us they still have it. These guys have branded themselves like no other. Let’s be honest here, when you think of greatness in rapping or sports these are the FIRST two names that come up and set the standard or Blueprint for you should strive to be.
Both started their careers with a strong support system, but despite Em having Dre, and Kobe having Shaq, these men proved that they can stand on their own and are truly one of the greats. Both Kobe and Em had their issues and blemishes in their career which we won’t get into, but they overcame those struggles and prevailed to new heights in their career. Kobe dropped 81 points, 5 championships, 7 finals appearances, 2 Finals MVP’s while Eminem’s latest album Recovery sold 741,000 copies its first week and went on to become the best selling album of 2010 with 5.7 million copies and the best selling digital album of all time.
Lil Wayne = Allen Iverson
Although Wayne has dropped more albums than A.I. has appeared in the NBA finals, I compare these two for several other reasons. A.I. has a MVP title, All-Star MVP, and a trip to the finals, but no championship. While Wayne has 2 solid albums (Carter I &II) but no classics! That’s right; I said it, NO CLASSICS! On top of that, I feel that they have burn themselves out in their profession, Playing too long while not delivering on a consistent basis and recording too much material to the point where he has nothing left to talk about or worth listening to.
Drake = LeBron James
The potential is there with both of these guys and so is the hype! Drake had everyone proclaiming him as great and raps “next best thing” when he dropped the mixtape “So Far Gone”. But when he released his first debut album “Thank Me Later” it wasn’t quite the classic album that we were expecting. Just like LeBron, he hasn’t fully lived up to all the hype surrounding him. Sure he has fantastic seasons, and is a two time-MVP, which is equivalent to Drake’s countless features and Grammy nomination that he ultimately didn’t win. Both have failed to deliver when it counts the most, no classic album for Drizzy and no ring for Bron. So you’re stuck asking yourself the question “When will he get a ring/drop a classic album?” Or will they ever?
J. Cole = Kevin Durant
These two are young with limitless potential. Honestly the sky is the limit! Cole drops bars like Durant drops points, but the question we have is when will Cole drop an album and when will Durant make it to the finals and will both of them come out winning?
To be continued…
-Domo
C’mon fam, Tupac = Rasheed Wallace though??????? Naaaaaaa. Also, you can’t claim “Thank Me Later” isn’t a classic YET. It JUST dropped last year and went platinum within a year. One of the quickest for a debut album from a rap artist in our life time.
Nice comparisons with some of the greatest NBA stars. If feel like Magic Johnson (not sure who I’d compare him to) and Charles Oakley (who I’d compare to Black Thought) should of been in the mix. I would like to hear your opinion on this based on the NFL with figures like Deion Sanders (who I equate to Kanye). Good stuff Domo!
@Derric – Record sales don’t mean a album is a classic. I mean… Milli Vanilli & Vanilla Ice both went platinum too.
That would be a great comparison to, with NFL stars. Record sales mean nothing when it comes to talent, but any rap artist who has a million for his first project is superb. He by himself up rose young money with So Far Gone. His style and bars are that of a storyteller and also a fortune teller, he foresees what will happen next in his career in one track, then comes back and tells you how he told you so. But if you’re comparing LeBron’s rings, you have to compare the album sales. That’s a ring within itself…
But uh, where’s Joe Budden???? *waits for controversy* lol
Ummmmm Lebron and Drake…..ugh NO…but other then that great post guys!! I do agree with Hodges I would have like to see y’all compare Magic to someone..maybe an old school hip hop great and just for laughs a comparison for Scottie after that blasphemous ass comment he made about LeBron and Jordan!
Magic is coming in pt 2. Stay tuned
I’m disappointed by this, but I give you credit for trying.
I have tried to create something like this before but its no way because its too many variations.
The Big L/Len Bias theory is cool.
BIG and Wilt have nothing in common, but stature. Wilt played in a league of shorter, weaker competition. BIG was king during the greatest era of hip hop. Wilt may have only won 2 championships, but made it to the Finals several times to lose to Bill Russell countless times. BIG’s hip hop career was too short to be compared to the 2nd most (Shaq) dominating basketball figure ever.
RASHEED WALLACE IS TUPAC? C’mon Domo! Rasheed Wallace isn’t even in the top 10 greatest power forwards of all-time comparison. As the great Bill Simmons once said, the Tupac of basketball was Bill Walton. Both had an incredible 3 year span of being the attention of the world, but due to his death and Walton’s injuries. both careers feel quickly. Let’s not forget Walton was a hippy of the NBA and Pac was the rebel of our culture. Rasheed Wallace of Hip Hop is Treach from Naughty by Nature. Ha.
I like the Eminem/Kobe comparison except for the fact Kobe means more to the NBA than Em will mean more to hip hop. When Em “retired”, who cared? Imagine if Kobe called it quits. Another factor would be Kobe is the greatest of his time, period. Eminem is VERY debateable. Jay-Z is more Kobe than Em. There is no Michael Jordan of hip hop.
Allen Iverson was a #1 pick, revolutionized the crossover and played with more heart than any other athlete, ever. Lil Wayne was in an incredible southern crew called the Hot Boyz, broke out through freestyles and now is one of the kings of this hip hop shit (whether you like it or not). So I see where you’re going, but Wayne won chips with his Carter dynasty and AI came close in 2001. 1 MVP and 1 Finals appearance is not Mr. Carter worthy. Lil Wayne could be a Tim Duncan. Both won titles, their personalities are EXACT opposites. The Allen Iverson of hip hop could be Pac. Both were warriors, conquered for a bit then fell off thru death or ego.
Drake and Bron both started the same with the hype, but Drake didn’t go thru the Decision of choosing a record label or the hate of the public media. Both are the kings of this new generation, but Drake is the angel and LeBron is the devil. Sad, but true.
Too much time remaining on the Cole and Durant topic, but it will work for now.
Like I said Domo, sorry to critique your article so strongly, but I had to speak my peace.
This topic needs to be remained untouched.
-T
Great Article. Great Opinions. I agree with everyone “Where is Magic” ??? but overall the you got it all right. You have to know Basketball and Hip-Hop/Rap to understand this article. Every athlete in this article will go down as a Hall of Famer and Every rapper in this article can be considered to be one of the greatest ever.
Oh where is NAS ??? lol
-Boog
Damnnnnnnn Terry!!
Rasheed Wallace is a HOF? Ha.
You did a pretty good job with this Domo!
A little harsh on my mans Wayne tho :/. Drake and LeBron still have the time and potential to do great things. They’ve come close but just haven’t quite grasped the big picture. I’m looking forward to seeing what they both will do in their careers over the next 1-2 years, same for J. Cole and KD.
Looking forward to Part II…
The 2Pac comparison is pretty off and I can see why most people would almost find it offensive. However the stance alone that you ran with justifies your opinion.
I’m interested to see how you compare Kanye, Nas, etc. which I’m sure will follow in your next post.
Wayne won chips? Carter dynasty? lol true
@commenturry Made some good points….WOW!
Can someone please define what a “classic” album is? This seems to be subjective/opinion based and holds no true factual information.
Also, could you make the comparison that a championship ring is like a Grammy award? (in the music industry, the Grammy award is the only one that truly matters)
If you agree with that comparison…..then I will go on to say that comparing Allen Iverson to Lil Wayne is BULL!! Wayne has 4 Grammys….including BEST RAP ALBUM for guess what…The Carter III. Not to mention it sold 1 Million in a week. These are FACTS.
This is my view on the subject. And oh yea….FUCK YOU Domo. lol
classics are quite simple, it’s TIMELESS music which I’m
sorry but wayne hasn’t put out anything that will be worth listening to in 5,10,20 years, other generations etc.
I don’t understand why people try to equate sales to a classic record, that’s frivolous! If that’s the case then Big Willie Style, Vanilla Ice debut album and Soulja Boy all have classic albums based on your premise. Now w/ that being said I’m sure you see how foolish that statement sounds that a record is a classic because it sold a million copies. HA! Cut it out.
& just to be frank, the Carter 3 was the WORST of all the Carter album. Good day, {as I laugh hysterically at the Carter Dynasty bafoonery} lol
thanx Soze…… You just PROVED my point that the term “classic” is all opinion based. lol.
but I do agree wit you bout your other points tho.
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