It Sounds Like Lonzo Ball Is Taking This Rap Thing Pretty Seriously

Lonzo also gives Lil Uzi Vert's 'Luv Is Rage 2' a shout-out.

September 15, 2017

Los Angeles Lakers' Lonzo Ball is set to drop new music soon. Ball, who's made headlines recently with his 21 Savage and Jay Z comparisons, opened up about his musical ambitions in a new interview with XXL. Ball discussed his early musical influences, the importance of Lil Wayne, and his future plans.

As a kid, Ball revealed, he listened to "a lot" of 50 Cent and DMX. "Those were probably the two main rappers I was listening to when I was young, but my favorite rapper has always been Lil Wayne," Ball said. As for why Weezy stands tallest among his influences, Ball said he feels the Young Money boss has remained consistent with his output. "Lyrically, he's definitely one of my favorites to do it," he said. "I need him to be free so he could put that other album out for me, but he's already put a lot towards the game." Ball credits his father, a devoted 2Pac fan, for introducing him to music.

As for his plans to follow his debut single "Melo Ball 1," Ball revealed he's currently working on new music. In fact, the next Lonzo Ball release will be backed by the family-owned Big Baller Music Group. "I won't be able to to do so since I'm focused on the NBA season ahead, but definitely one of my dad's close people that he works with will handle the record label," Ball said. So far, Ball hasn't enlisted any guests for the mystery project.

Ball also noted what he's been listening to the most recently, including 21 Savage's Issa Album and Lil Uzi Vert's Luv Is Rage 2. Check out the full interview here.

Ball turned a few purists' heads earlier this month with his Nas comments. Nas, however, apparently has no idea who Lonzo Ball even is.