The 50 Greatest NBA References in Rap

The NBA and rap have crossed paths many times throughout the years. We always hear the classic adage that NBA players want to be rappers and rappers want to be NBA players, so there are bound to be rappers that use some NBA references in their lyrics. These dedications, references, and shout-outs to the NBA come in different forms. There are entire songs dedicated to the NBA like Kurtis Blow's "Basketball" and there are quick and witty references like Drake's memorable line about Kobe Bryant's marital issues on "Stay Schemin'." From The Notorious B.I.G. to Kanye West, here are the 50 Greatest NBA References in Rap.

Sugar Hill Gang, "Rapper's Delight"

Year: 1979

Lyric: "I got a color TV so I can see the Knicks play basketball." (Big Bank Hank)

This line is lowkey heartbreaking in retrospect. Big Bank Hank was so excited to get that color TV only to see the Knicks miss the playoffs that season. So unless watching the Knicks lose in color was that cool, we doubt the enthusiasm really lasted. Anyway, this line is one of the earliest NBA references in hip-hop so including it on this list was absolutely necessary.

Fabolous f/ Red Cafe, "I'm The Man"

Year: 2007

Lyric: "You know how the man do/Coupe is on Manu/Ginobilis, but the truck is on Kobes." (Fabolous)

Fabolous is known as one of hip-hop's wordplay kings, so he's always coming up with some slick metaphors on the daily. In this track off of '07's From Nothin' to Somethin', he uses slick rhymes to compare car rim sizes to the jersey numbers of NBA players. Coupe rims are 20s and truck rim sizes are 24s, for the confused people out there.

Public Enemy, "Rebel Without a Pause"

Year: 1987

Lyric: "Simple and plain/Give me the lane/I'll throw it down your throat like Barkley!" (Chuck D)

Public Enemy was always able to deliver their message effectively in any capacity, including this line that's simple and straight to the point. We're just glad Chuck D didn't say that he'd throw you through a glass window like Barkley.

Big K.R.I.T., "Sky Club"

Year: 2012

Lyric: "Another shot just before it I don't need a chaser/Reggie Miller ain't allowed, we don't like the Pacers."

Reggie Miller made a great career ripping the hearts out of opponents with clutch shot after clutch shot. With his boastful demeanor and ability to take over games, he was bound to draw some ire from fans. It makes sense considering one of K.R.I.T.'s favorite teams growing up were the Chicago Bulls.

Ghostface Killah f/ Cappadonna, Method Man & Redman, "Buck 50"

Year: 2000

Lyric: "Pull a boot out on Jimmy Jam, text takes jam/Silky texture, Jordan jumped up like Clyde Drexler." (Ghostface Killah)

Earlier in the verse, Ghost says he's the "slickest nigga going since Grease." Quick question: would you rather be John Travolta or one of the greatest shooting guards in history? Choose wisely, because "Grease Lightning" was the truth. We guess one can take solace that Ghost has elements of both.

Ice Cube, "When Will They Shoot?"

Year: 1992

Lyric: "Like Jordan, I'm goin' coast to coast/Dribblin' the funk/Here comes the nigga with the motherfuckin' monster dunk/Get off me punk!"

Michael Jordan's celebration was a bit more nuance than a verbal diss. There's that tongue wag, the Mutombo finger wave. Screaming "punk" might just get you a fine nowadays, and if you're going to get fined, at least come up with something more creative than that.

Pharoahe Monch f/ Showtyme, Mela Machinko & Tower of Power, "Push"

Year: 2007

Lyric: "My accurate jabs connect like rotary/Make you notice me/Be like, 'Damn, dudes on some totally/When he rides the bass line like Ginobili." (Pharoahe Monch)

Pharoahe Monch shouts out Manu Ginobili on his record and he's right. Manu is pretty clutch from the baseline. We might have an analyst in the making.

Black and Brown, "LOL"

Year: 2011

Lyric: "Put my dick on her nose now she look like Pippen" (Danny Brown)

Danny Brown has a vivid imagination and he proves it with this line. But would you want to sleep with your lady after that? Pippen ain't the prettiest.

Kanye West, "Can't Tell Me Nothing"

Year: 2007

Lyric: "No, I already graduated/And you could live through anything if Magic made it"

We do forget that once Magic Johnson made the announcement that he had HIV, everyone thought that it was an automatic death sentence. Mr. West reminds us that Magic survived so he can provide the world with horrible basketball analysis on a regular basis, every season.

Beastie Boys f/ Q-Tip, "Get It Together"

Year: 1994

Lyric: "See I've got heart like John Starks/Hitting mad sparks/Pass me the mic and I'll be rocking the whole park." (Mike D)

It's not like being John Starks means that you're going to be that dude on any given occassion. Knicks fans know that. Knicks fans remember that. And that shit still hurts. MCA on the mic > John Starks on the hardwood. But you can't take John's heart away. He never took a play off.

Wale, "Mama Told Me"

Year: 2010

Lyric: "Nigga I'm a hundred miles far/I'm feelin' Chris Childs, you lookin' like Kobe Bryant jaw."

Chris Childs caught Kobe with two light hooks while Kobe was never really able to get in a shot besides a little elbow. It reminds us that NBA players can't fight (nor should they). Childs received a two-game suspension and Kobe got one. Kobe should've tried to get his money's worth on that one. Childs would've got banned for life if he tried that in today's NBA.

Roc Marciano, "Tek to A Mack"

Year: 2012

Lyric: "I'm back for the crown, baby/In the Avi' that's brown like gravy/Styles is wavy/Lazy eye Tracy McGrady/Deliver like an 80-pound baby."

This past year T-Mac attempted to come back for the crown with the San Antonio Spurs, but couldn't make it all the way. He still has that lazy eye though.

Beastie Boys, "B-Boys Makin With The Freak Freak"

Year: 1994

Lyric: "I got my hair cut correct like Anthony Mason/Then I ride the I.R.T. right up to Penn Station." (Mike D)

Not so fast, B-Boy. Would you really want go to Penn Station with a cut like this? There's a lot of NYC passerbys near 34th street, and a lot of them are looking for inspiration for some salty jokes.

The Cool Kids, "Pennies"

Year: 2009

Lyric: "Auburn Hills, Michigan, home of the Palace/The place on the map where Isiah beat Magic/Throwin' elbows, had them Rick Mahorn habits/With the 8-9 Bad Boy hammer on my cap/And you know Chuck wit' it, now the girls get wit' it/Tell 'em, kiss it off the glass or, pass or, kick it/Callin shots from the bench and finger pointin' picks/I'm coach Chuck Daly, aka Daddy Rich/I meant Chuck Ing-ah-lish, the flicker of the flicks/All net, finger-roll, Allan Houston off the pick/Yeaaah, the pick, of the litter with the kicks." (Chuck Inglish)

OK, OK, we get it. You know your shit about basketball. Sheesh. It's like that one dude you try to spark a conversation about basketball with, but he bombards you with random trivia questions as part of some sort of absurd initiation. Then by the time you pass this "test," you've already lost interest in a convo.

Rick Ross f/ Andre 3000, "Sixteen"

Year: 2012

Lyric: "Floor seat for the Heat, paper that I'm stackin'/Better put away a penny for the rainy days/Pick and roll, give and go, fuck a fade-away/Living like Scottie Pippen, dribble riddles for vittles" (Rick Ross)

If any NBA player is an example on what not to do when it comes to investments, Scottie Pippen has to be it. Pippen is known for numerous bad investments so his story can help anyone who's generating a healthy income including Rick Ross.

Too $hort, "Just Another Day"

Year: 1993

Lyric: "It's the same everyday, everyday it's the same/But that night we hit the hoop game/Who was playing? Seattle versus Golden State/Hollered at the homeboy Gary Payton/After the game, we went to his house/NBA Jams, turned us out."

Too $hort shouts out fellow Oakland native and NBA All-Star Gary Payton. Playing NBA Jam after going to a live NBA game featuring the Seattle SuperSonics sounds ideal. Yet another reason why being an NBA fan was better during the '90s.

Young Jeezy, "24-23"

Year: 2009

Lyric: "See I used to pay Kobe, but now I pay LeBron/Kobe, LeBron, Kobe, LeBron/Yeah I used to pay Kobe until I paid LeBron/Kobe, LeBron, Kobe, LeBron/24, 23/Y'all niggas remember me."

Jeezy uses a unique way to reference Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and drug-dealing in the same song. It's what we expect from Jeezy and features a unique hook that captivates the listener. It's no longer relevant because James now rocks No. 6 but it's still a dope hook. You think David Stern has this on his playlist?

Wale, "Barry Sanders"

Year: 2011

Lyric: "Interscope feeling like Charlotte when they traded Kobe, you know?/But I let it go, Rozay finna re-up/He got himself a Kobe and they stuck with Vlade Divac"

We get the drift, but there's evidence saying Interscope has more than a Vlade Divac. Are Eminem and Schoolboy Q Vlade Divacs? Plus, let's not forget the cover of the "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" Remix, which features Kendrick Lamar as a young Kobe next to Jay Z's Michael Jordan. Maybe Wale is the rap game's Pau Gasol?

Joe Budden, “Something to Ride To”

Year: 2010

Lyric: “While in New York, they say I’m crazy like Rodman was/In New Jersey, I’m what Petrovic, Drazan was”

Budden is playing with different moods here, and we're not saying that because it's part of Mood Muzik 4.5. Well, OK, that's part of the reason, but hear us out. In one line you get the at-times laughable absurdity of NBA great Dennis Rodman's antics. In the other, the Drazen Petrovic line right after sobers you up; Drazen was a great player (and shit-talker, which is what Budden is to an extent) gone too soon.

Jay Z, "Open Letter"

Year: 2013

Lyric: "Would've brought the Nets to Brooklyn for free/Except I made millions off it, you fuckin' dweeb/I still own the building, I'm still keeping my seat/Y'all buy that bullshit, you'd better keep y'all receipt"

The Brooklyn Nets isn't "Jay Z's team" people; he owned less than one percent of the team. But he sold the shit out of fraction of a percent. Jay's affiliation with the Nets was a win for the organization in terms of branding, plus S. Carter made some money off it. RocaWear and a 40/40 Club are located in Barclays. Could you imagine if RocaWear gets back in fashion? It could happen. We're looking at you, Drizzy.

Jay Z, "Excuse Me Miss Again (La La La)"

Year: 2003

Lyric: "Don't confuse me with Marbury out this bitch/Run up on me at the light, you could lose your life"

When Jay Z dropped his remix to "Excuse Me Miss" with shots fired at Stephon Marbury for the unarmed robbery of Marbury's necklace in his vehicle. Marbury didn't respond to Hov's line intially, but six years later, Marbury decided to speak up. The former All-Star point guard called Hov a camel while blasting "Public Service Announcement" in a bizarre video. We're eagerly anticipating Jay's response in 2015.

N.O.R.E. f/ Nature, Jadakiss, Styles P & Big Pun, "Banned From TV"

Year: 1998

Lyric: "Ayo, ayo, regardless of rain or snow, sleet or hail/I kick street tales, chokin' niggas like I'm Sprewell/Golden State, holdin' your fate in the palm of my hand/Blow you away like it's part of the plan." (Nature)

Latrell Sprewell choking his coach P.J. Carleismo led to a whole bunch of negatives. Sprewell was suspended for the rest of the '98 season (68 games) and his image took a huge hit. One positive, though, was the gem that Nature dropped on N.O.R.E.'s posse cut. Nature gets best line and best verse honors for that immaculate opener.

Big L, "Let 'Em Have It L"

Year: 1995

Lyric: "Facts on tracks, I recite well/Everybody wanna be like Mike, but Mike wanna be like L."

Everybody wants to be like Mike, but who does Mike wanna be like? What if his pregrame ritual included practicing some bars before eating that 23-ounce steak. His maniacal desire to win may have been motivated by a deep desire to become one of the greatest emcees ever. We may never know everything there is to know about His Airness.

Danny Brown, "S.O.S."

Year: 2010

Lyric: "I'm a pirate with the pyrex/Might fuck a bitch raw, Magic ain't die yet."

Leave it to Danny Brown to give us a line like this. That's a beautiful way at looking at things. Now if only he had Magic money, then he could actually risk contracting the monster. We kid. Stay safe, kids.

French Montana f/ Drake, Lil Wayne & Rick Ross, "Pop That"

Year: 2012

Lyric: "OVO that's major shit, Toronto with me that's mayor shit/Gettin cheddar packs like KD, OKC that's player shit." (Drake)

Being part of a wicked double entendre like this (KD=Kraft Dinner, Kevin Durant; OKC=Oklahoma City, "OK, see") is easily the biggest achievement of Kevin Durant's life. Yeah, making it to the Finals and being a three-time scoring champ is cool, but once you made it into a Drake verse, you've made it.

Wiz Khalifa f/ Juicy J, "Errday"

Year: 2011

Lyric: "My mansion sittin' on 40 acres, who the neighbors?/Kobe Bryant from the Lakers, now that's paper." (Juicy J)

Juicy J stays trippy all the time and according to him he's living the life. One can only imagine a scenario where a Juicy J party is interrupted by Kobe Bryant asking him to turn down the noise.

Action Bronson, "Set It Off"

Year: 2011

Lyric: "Aged cheese, 8 months, stinky aroma/Behind the back pass, Arvydas Sabonis/Whole smart crew, kid. We smoking weed in diplomas."

Every rapper and their weed carrier love to make references to American greats like MJ and Ali, but where's the shine for great foreign players? And this line is another reason why we fuck with Action Bronson. Dude gave a shout-out to one of the best foreign players of all time all while tying it into his love of kush. A lyrical rap reference and Hall of Fame induction all in the same year (2011)? Not bad, Arvydas Sabonis. Not bad at all.

The Notorious B.I.G., "Gimme The Loot"

Year: 1994

Lyric: "I'm slamming niggas like Shaquille/Shit is real/When it's time to eat a meal/I rob and steal."

Biggie and Shaq did have a friendship back in the day. They both even had a collaboration together on the remix to Shaq's "You Can't Stop The Reign." If you watch footage, Shaq was slamming on everyone, and Biggie was having mothers saying "it's so hard!"

Kurtis Blow, "Basketball"

Year: 1984

Lyric: Entire Song

If there was a godfather of basketball references it would be this song. Kurtis Blow made the manual, referencing some classic moments in NBA history like Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100 points, or the Celtics back-to-back titles. Still, one line stands out, "Basketball is my favorite sport."

A Tribe Called Quest, "The Infamous Date Rape"

Year: 1991

Lyric: "Runnin mad games as if your name was Scott Skiles/Or better yet Magic or even Karl Malone/Regardless who it is, your aim is to bone" (Phife Dawg)

Malone, Skiles, and Johnson have an average of 994 games between them. If you have to spit that much game to a woman, it's probably best to move on. Unfortunately, Phife's character learns that the hard way by the end of the verse: "What do you know, when the meow is completed/Girly girl cried rape, yo/I didn't really need it."

Lloyd Banks, "It Blows My Mind"

Year: 2004

Lyric: "If there's more than one hoe, sit back and blow me/And argue over my balls like Shaq and Kobe."

The Kobe and Shaq feud seems so long ago, but it dominated headlines for a long time. Many different factors played a role in their split, but the crux of their beef can be attributed to "being the man" on the Lakers and having the ball as much as possible. Lloyd Banks is able to break down such a big story with some unique wordplay in just one line.

J. Cole, "Return of Simba"

Year: 2011

Lyric: "Ced said, 'Look, my niggas, we got a foot in'/Being good is good, that'll get you Drew Gooden/But me, I want Jordan numbers, LeBron footin'/Can't guard me, Vince Lombardi, John Wooden."

There's a major difference between good and great. Drew Gooden has carved out a solid career, but played for nine different teams, and is known more for his wild facial hair. To want more is only right for Cole after being in the shadow of a legend like Jay Z. We might as well call Cole the anti-Memphis Bleek.

Diddy f/ The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes, "Victory"

Year: 1997

Lyric: "Real quick, real sick, raw nights, I perform like Mike/Anyone—Tyson, Jordan, Jackson, action, pack guns" (The Notorious B.I.G.)

"Victory" seems to be used commonly by all NBA arenas in late game situations as music to hype the crowd up. It's the perfect climactic beat with some dramatic bars from B.I.G. and Puff Daddy, and a very loud and rambunctious Busta Rhymes on the chorus. B.I.G. performing like MJ is definitely not a stretch.

Kanye West f/ Pusha T & Ghostface Killah, "New God Flow"

Year: 2012

Lyric: "Went from most hated to the champion god flow/I guess that's a feeling only me and LeBron know." (Kanye West)

LeBron and Kanye have a ton in common in terms of the trajectory of their careers. After taking heavy criticism and suffering public embarrassment both have rebounded to reach new heights of success as champions of their respective fields.

Jay Z, "Hola Hovito"

Year: 2001

Lyric: "I ball forreal/y'all niggas is Sam Bowie/And with the 3rd pick/I made the Earth sick/MJ, him Jay, fade-away, perfect"

We will never forget the epic mistake the Portland Trail Blazers made when they chose to draft Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan. This reference has been used forever, but in Jay Z labeling his detractors as busts, it's a major win.

Beastie Boys, "Tough Guy"

Year: 1994

Lyric: "Butcher me on the court/Too many elbows to report/Now you're poking me in the eye/Bill Laimbeer muthafucka it's time for you to die."

We all know how frustrating Bill Laimbeer was back in the Bad Boy Era of the Detroit Pistons. Just watch Laimbeer dole out the pain in this clip. The Beastie Boys were notorious Knicks fans and this reference speaks to how rough and rugged the NBA was back in the '80s and the '90s.

Lil Wayne, "Show Me What You Got (Remix)"

Year: 2006

Lyric: "And when it comes down to this recording/I must be LeBron James if he's Jordan/No, I want rings with my performance/I'm more Kobe Bryant up in all this/Same coat, same gang been starting/Same triangle offense/I come through the lane like a dargeant/Referee niggas is lame they call charging."

Lil Wayne takes charge of Jay Z's record and throws in the very common Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James reference. Too bad it ends up being a shot at the (at the time) ringless LeBron and a homage to Kobe Bryant. Fast forwad to 2013 and guess which team Weezy is supporting. We ain't saying he's a bandwagoner, but...

J. Cole, "I Got It"

Year: 2009

Lyric: "But I'm Hoop Dreamin', hanging up pictures of my idols/Jordan was like Jesus, SLAM was like the Bible/I used to read it twice and cut the pictures out/Had the Jordan free-throw dunk, tongue stickin' out."

J. Cole reminds us of the days when we were young, and dreaming about ballin' in the Association. Those days were simple, but it's still great to hear Cole drop a reference to a time when Jordan was basketball royalty and not running the Charlotte Bobcats into the depths of basketball despair.

Beanie Sigel f/ Jay Z, "Raw and Uncut"

Year: 2000

Lyric: "Me and Jay same track/You gotta be kiddin'/It's like that nigga Jordan, I'm Scottie Pippen/ It's like Magic, Worthy/Parish, Bird, B/Stockton, Malone shit/Who gonna stop and hold this?/Game like Doc and Moses/Fullcourt press and the Roc controls this." (Beanie Sigel)

Beanie Sigel was the Scottie Pippen to Jay-Z's Michael Jordan for a considerable amount of time. Their flows complemented each other so well, you would've thought the Roc did control the rap game. Too bad the Roc couldn't stay together, but at least they won a couple chips before it all came crashing down.

Jay Z & Kanye West, "N****s in Paris"

Year: 2011

Lyric: "So I ball so hard mothafuckas wanna fine me/First niggas gotta find me/What's 50 grand to a mothafucka like me?/Can you please remind me (Ball so hard)/This shit crazy/Y'all don't know that don't shit faze me/The Nets could go 0 for 82 and I'd look at you like this shit gravy" (Jay Z)

This reference was so different from other references because of how unique the situation was. Jay Z actually had an investment in an NBA team and he had been fined by the NBA for a visit to the Kentucky Wildcats locker room in 2011. While Hov might have sold his stake in the Nets recently, we can always reminisce on the golden times when he couldn't care less if the Nets won a game or if David Stern's goons came at him with fines.

Big Pun, "The Dream Shatterer"

Year: 1998

Lyric: "Ayo, I shatter dreams like Jordan/Assault and batter your team/Your squadron will be barred from rap/Like Adam and Eve from the garden."

Throughout the '90s, Michael Jordan was shattering the dreams of many elite stars and teams. Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton, and Charles Barkley are just a few Hall of Famers that failed to secure a ring because of the immaculate talents of the G.O.A.T. It's alright, guys. We made this gallery just for you.

Heavy D, Biggie, & Tru Kula, "Jam Session"

Year: 1995

Lyric: Entire Song

The Heavy D and Biggie connection is unmistakable. Both plus-sized emcees combined with Tru Kula to form the ultimate NBA reference track. Lines like "Rebounding, outstanding, no one surrounding/I'm screwing and doing like I was Ewing/The only one soaring and scoring is Jordan/He must of had his Wheaties this morning." and "I'm stripping like Scottie Pippen giving the serious butt-kicking/Breaking bones like Karl Malone yeah I'm flippin'" proved why B.I.G. was ahead of his time.

A Tribe Called Quest, "Baby Phife's Return"

Year: 1996

Lyric: "Yeah, you know my flava, tear this whole jam apart/Fuck around and have your heart, like Jordan had Starks/While you playin hokey pokey, there's no time to be dokey/Cuz I come out to play every night like Charles Oakley" (Phife Dawg)

The Queens-bred group of A Tribe Called Quest is known for their fandom of the New York Knicks, so it makes sense that emcee Phife would find a way to weave two Knicks into a verse. Johns Starks can't catch a break.

Drake, "Thank Me Now"

Year: 2010

Lyric: "And that's around the time that your idols become your rivals/You make friends with Mike, but gotta A.I. him for your survival."

Drake's reference features one of the signature moments of change in the NBA. Things changed when A.I. crossed up Jordan. It was the sign of the times, ushering in a new era that we all grew to love despite its rough edges.

The Notorious B.I.G., "I Got A Story To Tell"

Year: 1997

Lyric: "The shit she kicked, all the shit's legit/She get dick from a player off the New York Knicks/Nigga tricked ridiculous, the shit was plush/She's stressin me to fuck, like she was in a rush/We fucked in his bed, quite dangerous/I'm in his ass while he playing against the Utah Jazz."

Any time a rapper talks about rumored affairs we all want to listen. The Notorious B.I.G. decided to tell an ill story about a tryst with some epic plot twists. Listening to Biggie's impeccable storytelling is just fascinating. This story sounds so real and believable just because of B.I.G.'s delivery. The nameless New York Knick referred to in B.I.G.'s story was rumored to be former Knicks guard John Starks because he was 6'5".

Kanye West, "Cold"

Year: 2012

Lyric: "And I'll admit I fell in love with Kim/Around the same time she had fell in love with him/Well that's cool, baby girl, do your thing/Lucky I ain't have Jay drop him from the team."

There's something about Kim Kardashian that causes her current and former flames to reference her in songs. He wasn't dropped from the team but he was traded. He's now a member of the depleted Boston Celtics. Welp.

Jay Z, "Encore"

Year: 2003

Lyric: "As fate would have it, Jay's status appears to be at an all-time high/Perfect time to say goodbye/When I come back like Jordan, wearing the 4-5/It ain't to play games with you, it's to aim at you, probably maim you."

This is a slick line by Jay Z. MJ put on some phenomenal showcases after he wore No. 45 for 27 games, including a 55-point performance against the Knicks at the Garden. Mike switched back to 23 after his Bulls were eliminated by the Orlando Magic in the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The rest is history.

Jay Z, "Pump It Up (Remix)"

Year: 2003

Lyric: "Worry I'm not Mike Jordan of the mic recording/Hovi baby/You Kobe, maybe/Tracy McGrady/Matter fact, you a Harold Miner, J.R. Rider/Washed up on marijuana/Even worse you a Pervis Ellis/You worthless fella/You ain't no athlete you Shawn Bradley."

In Hov's reference, he seems to diss Joe Budden by going down the chart of player talent from great to terrible. He refers to Joey as Kobe at the beginning and works his way down the NBA talent food chain to Shawn Bradley. There is one player that no one wants to be compared to and that's Shawn Bradley. Maybe Rik Smits would've been nicer.

Rick Ross f/ Drake & French Montana, "Stay Schemin'"

Year: 2012

Lyric: "Kobe about to lose a hundred fifty M's/Kobe my nigga I hate it had to be him/Bitch you wasn't with me shootin' in the gym (Drake)/UGH BITCH YOU WEREN'T WITH ME SHOOTIN' IN THE GYM! (Rick Ross)"

Drake would later apologize for uttering this line about Kobe's pending divorce, but all's well that ends well. Kobe and his wife are back together and that means Kobe didn't lose out on that $150M. "No New Friends" probably suits the Black Mamba better after Dwight Howard ended his Lakers tenure.

Ice Cube "It Was a Good Day"

Year: 1992

Lyric: "Called up the homies and I'm asking y'all/'Which park are y'all playing basketball?'/Get me on the court and I'm trouble/Last week fucked around and got a triple-double/Freaking niggas every way like MJ/I can't believe today was a good day."

Ice Cube speaks the truth. When we play at out local gym or park we might have moments where we feel like MJ, or at least Shane Battier. The truth is, Cube must be more like Magic Johnson or LeBron James if he can be penciled in for a triple-double on the regular.