Hip-hop and hoops are birds of the same feather. They possess flair derived from an improvisational history. Whether that’s jazz, or “Pistol” Pete Maravich playing for the New Orleans Jazz. From now until the end of time, fans of both will unilaterally debate who is ‘the greatest of all time.’ This piece aims to settle the intersection between the two genres by answering the question; who is the best rapper in the NBA?
First thing’s first, the ranking is limited to current players. Points are awarded for distinctiveness of style and evolution of sound. Additional preference is rewarded for collaborations with big-name artists. Deductions occur for copycats and lo-fi, dorm-rapping types of recordings. So, unfortunately, that eliminates freestyles and whatever Gordon Hayward thought he was doing at Butler. Woof.
The OG Rappers
Shaquille O’Neal – ‘Shaq-Fu,’ ‘The Big Diesel,’ ‘The Shaq-tus,’ ‘The Big Aristotle,’ and ‘Kazam!’ O’Neal is the pioneer of entertainment moguls in the NBA. His rap career may not have been as renowned as his playing career, but the big man has bars. This music video with RZA and Method Man is the dose of 90s energy you need for your day.
Wayman Tisdale – Who? Tisdale played 12 seasons in the NBA and won a gold medal with Michael Jordan at the 1984 Olympics. A talented jazz guitarist, he signed to the Motown label in 1995 and released his first album Power Forward the same year. Tisdale’s 2001 release Face to Face rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz charts, making him the most accomplished NBA-adjacent recording artist. Besides Master P, I suppose. From cleaning the glass on the hardwood to laying down smooth tracks in the studio, he was a true renaissance man.
Honorable ‘Best Rapper’ Mentions
Lou Williams – “Sweet Lou” is arguably the greatest sixth-man of all-time, and was popularized as such by Drake in his 2015 album If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. Williams collaborated on a few occasions with Meek Mill during his stint with the Philadelphia 76ers. This includes a recording over the instrumental of Mill’s 2011 hit “Ima Boss.” It’s not bad, but not good enough to crack the top-five of our list.
Victor Oladipo – “VO” is not just an all-NBA player, but a crooner in disguise. Literally. He appeared as the Thingamajig during season two of The Masked Singer and finished in fifth place. The Indiana Pacer guard is more of an R&B vocalist than a true MC, which excludes him from qualifying on a ‘Best Rapper’ ranking.
The Top-Five Best Rappers
Introducing, your rap starting-five.
No. 5 – Lance Stephenson
“Born Ready” was born to record this remake of Bobby Shmurda’s 2014 sensation “Hot N****” after signing with the Charlotte Hornets that offseason. Check it out.
Lance is awaiting another opportunity in the league, but his music career might be equally worthy of a second chance.
No. 4 – Lonzo Ball
If you swapped “Zo” with anyone in Migos for a song, it might be impossible to notice. The New Orleans Pelicans guard boasts an impressive Spotify catalog including two full-length albums. Some of the hits function as BBB propaganda, but this only means that LaVar Ball is available for a music video appearance if need be.
If you enjoy auto-tuned pop-rap hits, check out the eldest Ball brother. Just disregard the Nas naivety from a few years back.
No. 3 – Javale McGee
A track on Justin Bieber’s “Changes” album was produced by JaVale McGee. You read that correctly. https://t.co/aUYwJTeWN4
— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) February 28, 2020
Did you know that the Cleveland Cavaliers center and three-time champion scored a production credit on a Justin Bieber album?
When he’s not making hits, McGee is in the studio spitting prose. His flow is pretty good. Check out his alter-ego, “Pierre.” He’s not the best rapper, but he’s better than most.
No. 2 – Iman Shumpert
I’m sure we’ve already seen Shumpert appear in the Kanye West “Fade” music video with his wife Teyana Taylor. But have you listened to his stuff, though? It has a respectable progression. “Anarchy,” from 2012, is far different than “HaNdel Bars,” from 2019. The former has a Cool Kids-esque whimsical vibe with Shumpert’s backward jersey and Johnny Bravo reference. The latter is edgier in a Southern sense of the influence.
Shumpert received praise from our honorable mention, Williams, in this 2017 interview when asked who would win a rap battle between Damian Lillard, Kevin Durant, and the two aforementioned MCs.
“I would say Shump because that’s Shump’s thing, but I would probably make the best songs though. Free-styling and rap battles, I’ll go with Shump.”
Lou Williams in a 2017 interview with Complex
While the praise is super cool, Williams failed to mention the number one selection on this list.
No. 1 – Damian Lillard
You guessed it. The undisputed rap king in the NBA. Look no further than his 2015 appearance on Sway in the Morning for evidence.
Lillard has the chops and industry recognition to boot. “Dame D.O.L.L.A.” has featured notable hit-makers on all three of his full-length albums. This includes Lil Wayne, 2Chainz, BJ The Chicago Kid, Jeremih, and others. He is an assassin whether he’s shooting from the logo, or releasing a Shaq diss track. This dominance over his basketball peers in the music industry stems from a dedication to his craft.
“I feel like when it comes to rap – like, real rap music – and knowing the pioneers of rap, I feel like there’s no competition for me in the NBA. Other guys can rap, but they’re not as invested or as deep into actual music as I am and have always been. I think that might be what the difference is. I’m more wanting to be an artist.”
Lillard in a 2017 Billboard feature.
There you have it. The ‘Best Rapper’ in the Association.
